[jmecklenborg]

I think part of the problem is that because there aren't any express tracks on the existing Second Ave. line, an extension into The Bronx would mean a relatively slow trip to Midtown and Downtown.

In theory, since nothing has been built or fully planned yet, a Bronx extension could be made to tunnel beneath what was just built and run express from 116th St. to 55th St., a distance of 3 miles. This would be similar to the long express run on the 8th Ave. line.

The express could also bypass the 34th and 23rd St. stations (or even enable one more station in that area), but it seems that they wouldn't want to skip any of the stations below that, since they all will transfer with other lines.

I think the whole Second Ave. dilemma is that building anything at all is super-expensive, but since people are shocked by that number, nobody has the guts to hold it up and wait to build something Transformative rather than merely transformative.