Second Avenue Subway, Manhattan

The Second Avenue Subway Archaeological Assessment was undertaken by HPI for MTA New York City Transit. The assessment evaluated the potential effects to archaeological resources by the proposed construction of a new subway line in Manhattan. The proposed subway route is several miles in length, extending from Second Avenue at 125th Street to lower Manhattan near Whitehall.

Prior to the Archaeological Assessment, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was prepared for the Manhattan East Side Transit Alternative (MESA) project which analyzed four potential project alternatives. HPI’s Preliminary Archaeological Assessment identifying potentially significant resources within each of the transit route alternatives was undertaken for MESA.

The project required the HPI team to establish the archaeological potential of alternative corridors. When the Second Avenue Subway route was selected, a comprehensive Archaeological Assessment was completed

This project was challenging because as it progressed, new project elements and alternative alignments were identified which required additional study. The potential effects of subsurface impacts to archaeological resources were assessed for all elements as they arose.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (SHPO) served as lead review agency, with the New York City Landmarks Preservation (LPC) acting as an interested party. HPI archaeologists worked closely with both of these agencies to satisfy their requirements and to expedite the review process.

Client agencies and team members collaborated to quickly and efficiently establish the Area of Potential Effect (APE), which was defined as any area that would be impacted by the proposed construction alternatives. The archaeology team provided an invaluable bridge between MTA-NYCT and the review agencies by facilitating communication and creating a positive and cooperative environment in which to progress successfully and rapidly through the permitting process.