View source for Second Avenue (Manhattan)

{{Short description|North-south avenue in Manhattan, New York}}
{{Other uses|Second Avenue (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Attached KML|display=title}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = Second Avenue
| native_name             =
| marker_image            = 
| image                   = Second Avenue at 26th Street, looking north.jpg
| image_size              = 
| image_map               = {{maplink-road}}
| caption                 =
| other_name              =
| former_names            =
| postal_code             = 
| addresses               =
| length_mi               = 6.4
| length_ref              = <ref name="google maps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.804656,-73.9322816/40.72374,-73.9910111/@40.7646074,-73.9670435,12.74z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-73.956713!2d40.7710711!3s0x89c258c07f9b5027:0xa60ad675e4349eea!3m4!1m2!1d-73.9631526!2d40.7622324!3s0x89c258e89d56929d:0x9a6fc70a10e71438!3m4!1m2!1d-73.9780618!2d40.7417843!3s0x89c2590927e81901:0xf10bc0242b236ec7!1m0!3e0 |access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref>
| width                   =
| owner                   = [[Government of New York City|City of New York]]
| location                = [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]
| client                  =
| maint                   = [[NYCDOT]]
| coordinates             =
| direction_a             = South
| terminus_a              = [[Houston Street|Houston]]&nbsp;/ [[Chrystie Street (Manhattan)|Chrystie Street]]s in [[Lower East Side, Manhattan|Lower East Side]]
| junction                = {{jct|state=NY|NY|25}} in [[East Midtown, Manhattan|East Midtown]]<br>{{jct|state=NY|NY|900G|noshield1=yes}} in [[East Harlem]]
| direction_b             = North
| terminus_b              = {{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Harlem River}} in East Harlem
| commissioning_date      = [[Commissioners' Plan of 1811|March 1811]]
| construction_start_date =
| completion_date         = 
| inauguration_date       = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| demolition_date         =
| east                    = [[First Avenue (Manhattan)|First Avenue]]
| west                    = [[Third Avenue]]
}}

'''Second Avenue''' is located on the East Side of the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Manhattan]] extending from [[Houston Street (Manhattan)|Houston Street]] at its south end to the [[Harlem River Drive]] at [[128th Street (Manhattan)|128th Street]] at its north end. A one-way street, [[Automobile|vehicular]] traffic on Second Avenue runs southbound (downtown) only, except for a one-block segment of the avenue in [[Harlem, Manhattan|Harlem]]. South of Houston Street, the roadway continues as [[Chrystie Street (Manhattan)|Chrystie Street]] south to [[Canal Street (Manhattan)|Canal Street]].

A [[bicycle lane]] runs in the leftmost lane of Second Avenue from 125th to Houston Streets. The section from 55th to 34th Streets closes a gap in the [[Manhattan Waterfront Greenway]].

Second Avenue passes through a number of Manhattan neighborhoods including (from south to north) the [[Lower East Side, Manhattan|Lower East Side]], the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]], [[Stuyvesant Square]], [[Kips Bay]], [[Tudor City]], [[Turtle Bay, Manhattan|Turtle Bay]], [[Midtown Manhattan|East Midtown]], [[Lenox Hill]], [[Yorkville, Manhattan|Yorkville]] and [[Spanish Harlem]].<ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb6/downloads/pdf/197-A%20Plan.pdf] "The Study Area includes many distinctive urban elements in a densely developed area: the East River waterfront, well known residential enclaves such as Tudor City, Turtle Bay, Beekman Place, and Sutton Place with historic buildings and features, Stuyvesant Square, the United Nations, and other older residential neighborhoods intermixed with more recent apartment towers and superblock housing developments, as well as two massive power plant complexes, several superblocks of hospital facilities, and neighborhood parks."</ref><ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/yorkville.pdf Yorkville, Manhattan: Senior Pedestrian Crashes 2001-2006]</ref>

==History==
[[File:Second Avenue Manhattan 1861.jpg|thumb|375px|left|Second Avenue facing north from [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd Street]] in 1861]]

Downtown Second Avenue in the [[Lower East Side]] was the home to many [[Yiddish theatre]] productions during the early part of the 20th century, and Second Avenue came to be known as the "[[Yiddish Theater District]]", "Yiddish Broadway", or the "Jewish Rialto". Although the theaters are gone, many traces of Jewish immigrant culture remain, such as [[kosher]] [[delicatessen]]s and [[bakeries]], and the famous [[Second Avenue Deli]] (which closed in 2006, later reopening on East 33rd Street and Third Avenue).

The [[Second Avenue Elevated]] train line ran above Second Avenue the full length of the avenue north of [[23rd Street (Manhattan)|23rd Street]], and stood from 1880 until service was ended on June 13, 1942. South of Second Avenue, it ran on First Avenue and then Allen and Division Street.<ref name="staff">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130327120851/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/278313072.html?dids=278313072:278313072&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jun+13%2C+1942&author=By+a+Staff+Correspondent+of+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Second+Avenue+%27El%27+Coming+to+a+Stop&pqatl=google "Second Avenue 'El' Coming to a Stop"], ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', June 13, 1942. Accessed October 12, 2008.</ref> The elevated trains were noisy and often dirty (in the 19th century they were pulled by soot-spewing steam locomotives). This depressed land values along Second Avenue during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Partially because of the presence of the El, most buildings constructed during this era were working class [[tenement]]s. The line was finally torn down in 1942 because it was deteriorated and obsolete, and the cost of [[World War II]] made upkeep impossible.<ref name="nycsubway">{{cite web|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/2ndave-route132c.html |title=Second Avenue Subway: Route 132-C |publisher=www.nycsubway.org |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> Second Avenue maintains its modest architectural character today, despite running through a number of high income areas.

Second Avenue has carried one-way traffic since June 4, 1951, before which it carried traffic in both the northbound and southbound directions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingraham|first=Joseph|title=Autos Speeded 15% on 1st And 2nd Aves|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/06/05/archives/autos-speeded-15-on-1st-and-2d-aves-oneway-traffic-on-first-avenue.html|access-date=August 28, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 5, 1951}}</ref>

A protected bike lane on the left, or east, side of the avenue between 59th and 68th streets was completed in 2019. This, along with previous bike lane projects, gave the avenue a continuous bike lane from 125th to 43rd Street.<ref name="Nieves 2019 s006">{{cite web | last=Nieves | first=Alicia | title=Cyclists celebrate 2nd Avenue bike lane | website=PIX11 | date=August 16, 2019 | url=https://pix11.com/news/cyclists-celebrate-2nd-avenue-bike-lane/amp/ | access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name="ABC7 New York 2019 k423">{{cite web | title=New York City opens bike lane on dangerous section of 2nd Avenue | website=ABC7 New York | date=August 16, 2019 | url=https://abc7ny.com/2nd-avenue-bike-lanes-deaths-new-york-city/5472436/ | access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref> In March 2024, the NYCDOT announced plans to widen the bike lane on Second Avenue from 59th to Houston Street, as well as relocate the bus lane away from the curb.<ref name="Lane 2024 e060">{{cite web | last=Lane | first=Charles | title=Manhattan's 2nd Avenue would get 24/7 bus lane, wider bike lane under proposed redesign | website=Gothamist | date=March 5, 2024 | url=https://gothamist.com/news/manhattans-2nd-avenue-would-get-247-bus-lane-wider-bike-lane-under-proposed-redesign | access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Simko-Bednarski 2024 u257">{{cite web | last=Simko-Bednarski | first=Evan | title=NYC DOT plans revamp of Second Ave. bus and bike lanes | website=New York Daily News | date=March 5, 2024 | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/03/04/nyc-dot-plans-revamp-of-second-ave-bus-and-bike-lanes/amp/ | access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref> Work on the new bus and bike lanes began that June.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=Construction starts on revamped Second Avenue bus, bike lanes | website=amNewYork | date=June 4, 2024 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/construction-second-avenue-bus-bike-lanes/ | access-date=June 6, 2024}}</ref><ref name="o622">{{cite web | last=Geffner | first=Amanda | title=NYC DOT begins Second Avenue redesign with wider bike, upgraded bus lanes | website=FOX 5 New York | date=June 4, 2024 | url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-dot-begins-second-avenue-redesign-wider-bike-upgraded-bus-lanes.amp | access-date=June 6, 2024}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

=== 2015 gas explosion ===
{{Main|2015 East Village gas explosion}}
On March 26, 2015, a gas explosion and resulting fire in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] destroyed three buildings at 119, 121 and 123 Second Avenue, between East 7th Street and [[St. Marks Place (Manhattan)|St. Mark's Place]]. At least twenty-two people were injured, four critically, and two people were initially listed as missing.<ref>Flegenheimer, Matt and Surico, John [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/nyregion/as-hopes-fade-in-search-for-2-men-workers-scour-rubble-at-east-village-blast-site.html "Two Men Remain Missing as Remnants of Explosion Are Scoured in Manhattan"] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (March 28, 2015)</ref> Later, two men were found dead in the debris of the explosion and were confirmed to be the ones listed as missing.<ref>Barr, Meghan. [https://news.yahoo.com/utility-found-hazardous-situation-months-nyc-blast-064610758.html "Official: 2 found dead in rubble believed to be missing men"], Yahoo! News (March 30, 2015)</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Crews Reach Basement In Manhattan Building Explosion Clean-up |first=Jim |last=Dolan |date=April 3, 2015 |publisher=WABC-TV |access-date=April 4, 2015 |url=http://7online.com/news/crews-reach-basement-in-manhattan-building-explosion-clean-up/574555/}}</ref> There had previously been an illegal tap installed into the gas line feeding 121 Second Avenue.<ref name="records">Sandoval, Edgar and Smith, Greg B. [http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gas-main-records-eyed-east-village-blast-investigation-article-1.2167908 "City probing whether East Village building owner illegally tapped into gas main as family mourns Nicholas Figueroa"] ''[[New York Daily News]]'' (March 31, 2015)</ref> In the days before the explosion, work was ongoing in the building for the installation of a new 4-inch gas line to service the apartments in 121, and some of the tenants had smelled gas an hour before the explosion.<ref name="records" />

Eleven other buildings were evacuated as a result of the explosion, and Con Ed turned off the gas to the area. A few residents were allowed to return to some of the vacated buildings several days later.<ref name=records />

==Transportation==
===Bus service===

The [[M15 (New York City bus)|M15]] local serves the entirety of Second Avenue south of East 126th Street. The [[M15 SBS (New York City bus)|M15 Select Bus Service]], the [[Select Bus Service]] equivalent of the local M15 bus, provides [[bus rapid transit]] service along Second Avenue southbound. These two are the primary Second Avenue servers. 

Other bus routes include the following:<ref name="MTA-ManhattanBusMap-Current">{{Cite NYC bus map|M}}</ref>
* The westbound {{NYC bus link|M125}} runs from East 127th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
* The eastbound {{NYC bus link|M35}} runs from East 124th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where westbound buses run to East 126th Street.
* The westbound {{NYC bus link|M96}} runs from East 97th to East 96th Streets.
* Three Queens buses hop onto the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge from one of three streets via the avenue:
** The {{NYC bus link|Q101}} runs from East 61st Street.
** The {{NYC bus link|Q60}} runs from East 60th Street.
** The {{NYC bus link|Q32}} runs from East 59th Street. 
* The eastbound {{NYC bus link|M50}} runs from East 50th to East 48th Streets.
* The downtown [[M34A SBS (New York City bus)|M34A Select Bus Service]] runs from East 34th to East 23rd Streets, along with the downtown {{NYC bus link|M9}} south of East 29th Street.

===Subway===

The {{NYCS trains|Second header}} serves Second Avenue from 96th Street to 72nd Street before turning onto 63rd Street with a stop at Lexington Avenue, which has an exit at Third Avenue. A [[Second Avenue Subway]] line has been planned since 1919,<ref>Staff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327120851/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/278313072.html?dids=278313072:278313072&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jun+13%2C+1942&author=By+a+Staff+Correspondent+of+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Second+Avenue+%27El%27+Coming+to+a+Stop&pqatl=google "Second Avenue 'El' Coming to a Stop"], ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', June 13, 1942. Accessed October 12, 2008.</ref> with provisions to construct it as early as 1929.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/16/archives/100-miles-of-subway-in-new-city-project-52-of-them-in-queens.html |title=100 Miles of Subway in New City Project; 52 of them in Queens |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 16, 1929 |page=1 |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>

Two [[Chrystie Street Connection|short sections of the line]] have been completed over the years, serving other subway services (the [[Grand Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Grand Street]] station is served by the {{NYCS trains|Sixth express}}), and others simply sitting vacant underground (such as the unused upper level at the [[Second Avenue (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Second Avenue]] station on the {{NYCS trains|Sixth Rutgers}}). Portions have been leased from time to time by [[New York Telephone]] to house equipment serving the company's principal north-south communication lines which run under the Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Second_Avenue_Subway:_Route_132-C |title=Second Avenue Subway: Route 132-C |publisher=www.nycsubway.org |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> Isolated 1970s-era segments of the line, built without any infrastructure, exist between Pell and Canal Streets, and between 99th–105th and 110th–120th Streets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/features/n_10109/index1.html |title=The Line That Time Forgot – Second Avenue Subway |publisher=Nymag.com |date=April 5, 2004 |access-date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> Construction on Phase 1, which will eventually extend from 125th Street to the Financial District via the {{NYCS|T}} service, began on April 12, 2007. Phase 1 connects the [[BMT 63rd Street Line]] with the new line north to stations at [[72nd Street (IND Second Avenue Line)|72nd]], [[86th Street (IND Second Avenue Line)|86th]], and [[96th Street (IND Second Avenue Line)|96th]] Streets, serving the {{NYCS trains|Second header}}. Phase 1 opened on January 1, 2017.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/01/nyregion/second-avenue-subway-opening-upper-east-side-manhattan.html|title=Opening of Second Avenue Subway: Updates|last1=Slotnik|first1=Daniel E.|date=January 1, 2017|last2=Wolfe|first2=Jonathan|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|last3=Fitzsimmons|first3=Emma G.|last4=Palmer|first4=Emily|last5=Remnick|first5=Noah|access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> Phase 2, which would extend the line to East Harlem at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2029.<ref name="fta20161227">{{Cite news|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/New_York_City_2nd_Ave_Subway_Phase_2_Profile.pdf|title=New York City 2nd Ave Subway Phase 2 Profile|date=December 27, 2016|newspaper=FTA|access-date=January 4, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105000123/https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/New_York_City_2nd_Ave_Subway_Phase_2_Profile.pdf|archive-date=January 5, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> When the whole Second Avenue subway line is completed, it is projected to serve about 560,000 daily riders.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Stephen J. |url=http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/the-next-20-years-for-new-yorks-mta |title=The Next 20 Years for New York's MTA – Next City |publisher=Nextcity.org |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref>

===Bike lane===

There is a [[bike lane|bicycle lane]] along the avenue south of 125th St.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/manhattan-bike-map/ |title=Manhattan Bike Map: Manhattan Bike Paths, Bike Lanes & Greenways |publisher=NYC Bike Maps |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Stephen |url=http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/09/17/dot-proposes-filling-the-gap-in-second-avenue-protected-bike-lane/ |title=DOT Proposes Filling the Gap in Second Avenue Protected Bike Lane &#124; Streetsblog New York City |publisher=Streetsblog.org |date=September 17, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|2nd Avenue (Manhattan)}}
* [http://www.nysonglines.com/2av.htm New York Songlines: Second Avenue], a virtual walking tour

{{Streets of Manhattan|state=collapsed}}
{{East Village, Manhattan}}
{{Gramercy, Kips Bay, Stuyvesant Square}}
{{Midtown East, Manhattan}}
{{Upper East Side}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Second Avenue (Manhattan)| ]]
[[Category:Jews and Judaism in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Streets in Manhattan|*02]]
[[Category:Yiddish theatre in the United States]]
[[Category:East Harlem]]
[[Category:East Village, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Kips Bay, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Midtown Manhattan]]
[[Category:Murray Hill, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Upper East Side]]