Harlem Leaders Sought Subway Expansion Input

Business owners are demanding a formal role in planning to mitigate revenue losses caused by construction.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Harlem Leaders Sought Subway Expansion Input

Live Poll

Should local residents have a formal role in planning major infrastructure projects in your area?

Harlem business leaders met with MTA chair Janno Lieber to secure a formal planning role during the Second Avenue Subway expansion. Local owners are concerned that construction, which adds stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets, could replicate the daily sales drops seen elsewhere on the route.

Why it matters

Business owners face significant risks from long-term construction projects, including reduced pedestrian visibility due to fencing and declining foot traffic. They are seeking early intervention to prevent the displacement and revenue hits that often accompany major infrastructure work.

The Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 adds three new stations, following the completion of Phase 1 in 2017. While the East Harlem expansion expects completion in 2032, some local businesses have already reported a 1% daily sales drop due to current construction activity.

The players

Janno Lieber

The chair of the MTA who is responsible for overseeing the transit authority's multibillion-dollar capital construction projects.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York who recently directed state budget funds toward the design and engineering of the subway expansion.

The details

The MTA manages construction impacts through an outreach team, but current fencing on Second Avenue restricts storefront visibility. Business owners are pushing for a more robust planning role during the environmental review stage to safeguard their operations. Meanwhile, the project's westward expansion remains in early conceptual stages following state-funded design and engineering work.

Phase 1 of the subway project was completed in 2017.
Governor Hochul funded the expansion's design and engineering in early 2026.
Harlem leaders met with MTA chair Janno Lieber on October 5, 2026.
The East Harlem section construction expects completion in 2032.

Market Landscape

The push for planning input reflects a growing effort to mitigate the localized economic disruption typically associated with massive transit projects. This initiative directly follows the lessons and business challenges observed during the completion of the Second Avenue Subway Phase 1 project.

Operators in transit expansion zones should monitor the upcoming environmental review stage for formal public comment opportunities. Maintaining visibility during construction requires proactive engagement with the MTA’s outreach teams before physical fencing limits customer access.

The takeaway

Business owners in long-term construction corridors must advocate for design changes, such as reduced fencing or improved signage, early in the planning process. Tracking the MTA's environmental review timeline is essential for ensuring your operational concerns are formally documented.