New York, beneath the surface
NYC subway in 1972: Second Avenue construction begins
Ground was broken for the Second Avenue Subway on October 27, 1972. Construction did not mean passenger service: this map shows operating infrastructure, so an unfinished tunnel does not appear as a new line.
Explore the 1972 interactive map →
What this map represents
This year-end reconstruction contains 466 modeled stops across 4 boroughs and about 220 mapped miles. These are counts from this project’s model, not official historical station or track-mile totals. Modern route colors identify corridors, not the services running in 1972.
Selected events, 1968–1972
1968: Chrystie Street via the Williamsburg Bridge
The second branch opened in July, creating another connection between the BMT and IND.
1972: Second Avenue groundbreaking
Construction began on October 27. These unfinished tunnels did not yet carry passengers.
Source: Wikipedia: Unbuilt plans for the Second Avenue Subway
Sources and interpretation
Historical coverage and geometry are incomplete. Read the reconstruction method and limitations before interpreting station counts or route alignments.