History

With the help of the public, the MESA study team compiled a list of more than 20 alternatives to resolve existing and future transportation issues identified within the study area, including a new Second Avenue Subway.

An alternative was eliminated if the analysis uncovered a fatal flaw that would prevent it from providing a viable solution. Alternatives were eliminated if they contained obvious technical flaws or were not responsive to stated goals, objectives and/or needs. Several alternatives were eliminated because they were:

cost prohibitive compared to expected benefits
not physically feasible
disruptive to an existing mass transportation system
disruptive to a neighborhood or community
not helpful in reducing travel time or congestion
unable to comply with governmental or agency policy

Based on this process, a short list of alternatives was selected for in-depth environmental analysis:

No Build Alternative: A "no-build" option, which analyzed future conditions if no improvements were made.
Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative: Improvements to East Side bus service, including the installation of designated bus lanes on First and Second Avenues.

Build Alternative 1: A new subway line under Second Avenue from 125th Street to 63rd Street, with a connection to Lower Manhattan via the Broadway subway line. The new subway line would be designed to allow for future extensions northward into the Bronx and southward to Lower Manhattan.

Build Alternative 2: A 125th Street to 63rd Street subway line, as in Build Alternative 1, with the addition of a light rail transit line linking the Lower East Side to Union Square and Lower Manhattan.

Upon completion of the environmental analysis phase in August 1999, the MESA Draft Environmental Impact Statement Report was issued for public review and comment, and a public meeting was held.

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