I like this idea. This is "future proofing". Instead of waiting until neighborhoods are overrun with vehicular traffic and then building rapid transit. The transit line should be thought out, funding acquired, and constructed. The neighborhood will fill in later. Just looking at history bears this theory out. How many turn of the century pictures have we seen of elevated structures in this and other cities, with no sign of civilization is sight? Look at those same neighborhoods today.

I would love to see this. Maybe with one more stop between 42nd and 57th to service Hell's Kitchen, which is filled with a ton of residential buildings that have no subway access on 10th and 11th.

I always wanted the (L) to be extended to go on either 9 Av OR 10 Av. Glad u made the proposal.

This extension would be cool to see, but I agree it’s not a priority. I love how the local stations on the BMT Broadway line have unique art styles, maybe that could be incorporated into this extension?

I'd like to see this extension happen. I agree, not the number one prioroty at the moment but definitely worth considering for planning work in the next 10 years or so.

The (L) One of the best line (In my opinion) Does need to be extended. I Love the idea of the extension of the L train to 72nd st. The reason I love the (L) Is not only because the letter L start with my name, but it also has some cool tile art that you won’t see on any other line. Also I do want the (LL) Train to come back (In my opinion). That’s what I have to say about the L extension!

I agree with this line extension, but this would not be needed if the City of New York did not eliminate and torn down the 9th Ave EL in the 1940's.

I have an idea for a video: it’s about the G train. Since 2010, the G train has only ran between Court Square and Church Avenue. When it originally ran local on the Queens Boulevard Line from 71st-Continental to the odd terminus of Smith-9th Streets. My idea is that the G train should run to 71st-Continental again but as a limited rush hour service extension similar to how the W does in Brooklyn. In fact it is possible to implement this service without any construction, aside from the changing of station signage probably. The Court Square station tracks have no bumper blocks and the tracks continue on to Queens Plaza and onto the local route of the Queens Boulevard line, so this special rush hour G train extension is theoretically possible to implement.

I absolutely love this idea the L train line extended to the upper west side 72st. this would make the far west of midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea and the UWS more easier n fast to access. Hopefully the MTA consider this one day! The stations should have modern look while having maybe Art Deco style or anything that pops out with details design like our old architectures!

When planning such an extention. bellmouths on 14th street facing west towards Hoboken as well as bellmouths on 10th Ave facing south should be build. This would eventually allow you to build an entire 10th Ave subway as well as a subway below the Hudson. Optionally plan all station on 10th Ave with extremely wide platforms, so you could cut the platforms back to allow a 4 track subway 10thAve if there is demand.

As a person who takes the L train every day I can tell you it would be blessing. I currently take the L to the last stop which is 8th avenue just to take the uptown A C or E to 34th street, I walk to 9th ave to go to work. Why not extend the L train.? You could have done the same thing on the other side. Expanding the L to flatlands Brooklyn. That is a big transit desert. Flatlands currently doesn't have a subway.

"It's been 84 years" edit: i've been a supporter of this proposal for years. While i normally have it go into queens via northern blvd when making fantasy maps, i could see this thing being sent to the bronx (maybe either covering the western bronx followed by crosstown gun hill rd service or a crosstown line along 161-163 st and Lafayette av)

I lived in canaries for some time and I can honestly say I don't think I ever tool that L train into Manhattan I fell asleep one time on and seen I was underground I was like WTF 😅 😳 I barely went past Broadway junction on the L I'd say they need to extend the other way in Brooklyn toward east Flatbush

Great Job this extension should happen 👍🏾👍🏾

I thought of this exact idea b4 this video, I’m happy to see it get some extra opinions on it

I think that the design for the next L train stops in the future will look like the 2nd Avenue Line from the Q or the Hudson Yards station at the 7 train.

Good idea, better than my plans for the 7 to WTC, I think we can still extend the M60 SBS on bus ways to WTC, we should build the QBX project aka Queens Bronx light rail connecter. The purpose of the project is to give the north Bronx a crosstown as well as a connection to queens giving the areas new transit and relieve congestion of the throggs neck bridge. I like the thumbnail. In 2030, the west side skyline will have eternity buildings 3:29

And here I thought you meant extending the L into canarsie pier

The l and 7 lines both cut through the middle of Manhattan. L (14th St) 7 (42ndst) minus Hudson yards.

Great idea. However as long as it takes to build anything in NYC if implemented this could take as long as the 2nd AV subway that is not yet completed...hopefully construction would not take 50 years to complete...)-:

Never thought of it but it sounds really interesting. Makes going to places like High Line and other places near the water on the west side very convenient. Walking from 8th to 10th or 11th Ave can be a drag at points. And that 1/2/3 transfer is a great bookend for the line. I swear, the MTA might need to hire you.

It's not a bad idea. I wouldn't mind this extension because it'll revitalize the west side. It'll also cut down on the long walk to 8th Ave to catch the train. I was staying on 56th and 9th for a bit and a train on 57 and 10th would have been so convenient.

I mean this is even *more* fantasy, but extending the L to hoboken (and sending the 7 south with one stop at 14th street to Jersey City) makes sense to me. Obviously politics will never allow it, but it would unlock a ton of new ridership back in the reverse direction during rush hours. Would also solve the end of line space issues you highlight.

Taking ideas from vanshnookenraggen, I would take this extension one step further and have the line turn back west at 57th Street, with stops at 57th Street - 7th & 8th Avenues (with a connection to the NQRW trains), 5th Avenue, and Lexington Avenue (with a connection to the 4 5 and 6 trains). Then it would run into Queens via a new East River tunnel and connect with the Queensboro Plaza and Queens Plaza stations on the 7 E M N Q And R trains. The extension would then run farther into Queens along Northern Blvd as a 2-track line, with provisions to expand to 4 tracks. There would be local stops at 68 Street, 80 Street, and 89 Street; an express stop at Junction Blvd where local tracks could terminate, and another stop at 108 Street. There would also be provisions to connect to the IND Crosstown line or phase 3 of the Second Avenue Subway if it ever gets built. After 108 Street, the line would run along the Whitestone Expressway with stops at College Point Blvd, 25 Avenue, 20 Avenue, and the final stop at 14 Avenue.

Hudson Yards station is there because the developer paid for it. Interesting idea but really unlikely to happen.

When it comes to extending the L train, the idea I had was an extension in the opposite direction, specifically along the route of the former trolley line to Canarsie Pier. But this is good too.

Excellent video covering many details and a great upgrade to Westside if going to 72 street Extension to Canarsie pier would benefit people seeking a respite along Jamaica bay

I agree they should Extend the L train to 72nd street that is brilliant, I love it

What crazy fantasy map maker is that?

The extension would be interesting, but you'd need to be able to run 10 car trains on the L, something that's way overdue.

My issue is we need more expansions into Queens and (to a lesser extent) the Bronx more than Manhattan. As of early 2017 (per the Regional Plan Association), only 39% of Queens and 63% of the Bronx is within 1/2 a mile of a subway station compared to 91% of Manhattan. This has led to many stations in Queens (such as Flushing-Main Street) being insanely congested. We badly need the Queenslink, an extension of the A train east-west in the Bronx, a 7 train extension east, building a Northern Boulevard line to relieve congestion in Flushing, converting the Lower Montauk Branch to subway use (allowing a much quicker path from Jamaica to Long Island City), extending the Queens Boulevard Line further east close to the border, and more.

It needs a stop at 11ave 16th street heading north 11ave and 23rd street turning west and terminating at the Hoboken New Jersey Transit hub along with the 7 line extension to Hoboken as well.

Good video! I had that similar thought a few years ago. You read my mind. When are you doing the video about extending the F Train to the Cross Island Pkwy Queens/Nassau Border?(UBS Arena)

I'd like to see it go to 125th if it's already headed that far. Stop it under the road between Broadway where the 1 is and Amsterdam or Convent

First and I agree because the L is to short it needs some construction on it my thought I think The L needs to go to new lots with the 3 or from 14 to Hoyt’s scermerhorn

There should be an O train running to 14th and 8th Ave local from Canarsie and new express tracks built for the L which would run express on its current route.

For your next video, you should do a video about the new third track installed in the Lirr. Just a suggestion. Thanks! And great video!

This suggestion is great! And it would also promote more growth longer the west side

Important factual error in the video. The design of the 14th Street terminal itself and the bumper blocks do not inconvenience riders by slowing down service. The new South Ferry station, the terminal for the #1 train, has the same design and turns trains around very efficiently. The key is a high-speed switch in front of the station allowing trains to transition quickly into the available receiving track and slowing to a stop in the station. If the L's 14th St terminal is slower, it's because of the switch east of the station. Tail tracks beyond the terminal do help allow the train to enter the station a little faster, but their main value is in allowing the transit authority to store trains so they can be added to service at the following rush hour. However, your extension proposal is very imaginative.

I don't slow speeds at terminals delaying trains. Even if the next train during rush hour is 5 minutes or 3 minutes behind it. What may delay is when two trains are at the terminal and the third train has to wait to get in until that train's departure time. I've never heard a conductor say "attention passages we're being delayed because of a slow moving train into the terminal". I've heard them say "we're being delayed because of trains at the terminal waiting for departure". For that case I feel Terminals should be at least three tracks and two islands platforms wide, then that might alleviate some of the delays of trains trying to get into the terminal during rush hour. It works for the (7) at the Flushing Terminal.

For the L extension to Spring Creek, you can put tail tracks for a possible extension into southeastern Queens. While it is better to reactivate the Rockaway Beach Branch it can add more options for Southeastern Queens Riders as most of it is a Transit Desert a terminal in Spring Creek, with rail tracks could allow the L to extend South Ozone Park or Further as it would provide South Queens Riders with a subway with the 3 also being extended to Gateway Center Mall

Thoughts on it going into Jersey instead? Construction costs would be wild to send it up to 72nd. I'd even be OK if they had just done tail tracks when the rebuilt the line from Sandy

The Archer Avenue Line stations are not without their faults. Have never been able to figure out what they had in mind by making such a narrow stair going east at Sutphin Avenue. There are only two stairs, with the two escalators on the west having a somewhat wider stair in the middle. Was hoping the recent work going on at Archer-Sutphin would be to widen the stair (and get rid of the leg-breaker troughs on the side) but looks like it's just another elevator replacement.

I had the same exact observation. This should be a no brainer. The line would become much more useful to Manhattan and ease severe rush hour congestion. Present this formally!

Only thing since the river and West Side Hwy is really close on 10th &14th I was thinking the line can start at 9 Av. then turn on 23 St then continue on to tenth

There should be a 53rd at line going to 11/West End ave, like rerouting the B/D. Also, the L could use an extension in Canarsie

Good idea. Considering the heavily industrial nature of the far west side generations ago it's surprising that train service was never built there to begin with but it's also possible that the workforce lived locally and didn't need it.

Love the channel! What program/software did you use to map the line extension starting at 2:02?

L to coney island via flatlands av, nostrand av and voorhies av would also be good

This proposal may be more of a reality if a casino gets built in Hudson Yards, though I must say the Second Ave line should be the priority for Manhattan.

When I went to Stuyvesant High School 1976-79, I took the 1 train to 14th street and the L line to 1st Avenue. Vice versa home.

this isnt new to me because ive been telling people about it. but now it has reached one of the biggest transit youtubers.

Thanks for the video that no one notices. Subscribed :)

Though a full extension would be ideal, at the very least the L needs tail tracks built at 8 Ave and 14 St. It would be a relatively "small" project, involving just a trench about two blocks long, from sidewalk to sidewalk. It would be possible to build at least 4 tail tracks while remaining under $100m, giving the line some extra storage capacity as well for what's basically pennies to the MTA's budget. It could be built in under two years. The locals would barely notice any construction disruptions. Nobody would realize it was finished until suddenly the L was running every 2 minutes.

This is a wonderful idea!!!! I wonder if the MTA will open the third track on the Second Avenue line on the ( F) train?!

Imagine the Drip Train going up 10th Avenue

Honestly, this L train extension is not bad, but it needs to be the last subway extension to be built. In addition, Manhattan doesn't really have many transit deserts.

Bad, large stop spacing on the Second Avenue Subway made some problems ALREADY, like missing a connection with the M79+. 15 blocks is insane and prohibitive of any bigger development between stations or serving riders effectively.

Extending the L train north to 72nd St is very interesting. With the development of Hudson Yards that will give the MTA two crosstown trains the L & 7. The 72nd St @ 7th Ave stop is very narrow station, improvements may be needed!! There have been talks about extending the 7 train to New Jersey, how about the L train further north and/or the Q train @ 116th St crossing into Jersey, just a thought!!!!!! 6:01

This would definitely help the queens residents. Great idea

I think wider spacing between subway stations in a city with population density as high as Manhattan doesn’t work. However, I would like to see an expansion of commuter rail to compliment subway systems. I was also thinking of extending the J line to connect with the L and then curve right to Columbus circle, making a 59th street crosstown.

Greetings Mystic. I would like to see the L train get extended, to head into New Jersey. There was talk about sending the 7 train to New Jersey, over the years, still on the drawing board of the MTA

Welcome back!

I thought I was the only one who thought of a 10th Avenue extension of the Canarsie Subway, though my plan for that now is far different than before. For instance, the 10th Avenue Subway would run across Bergen County and Manhattan via Fort Lee Tunnel, 10th Avenue, and West Street, and would run alongside an extended 125th Street Subway. It would also include a completely reassigned M 10th Avenue Local that would run between 72nd Street-Broadway and Francis Lewis Boulevard via the 10th Avenue Subway and Myrtle Avenue Subway (a replacement of the old Myrtle Avenue Elevated). The line would also include the O and P 10th Avenue Express that would run between Fort Lee Terminal and Brighton Beach and Coney Island Terminal via the 10th Avenue Subway and extended Brighton Railway.

Okay so as a 72nd street resident I don't see how this would work without redoing the whole station

I’d like to see the L be extended to American Dream in NJ. So far, the 7 seems to be the only line rumored to one day get an extension to NJ, possibly Secaucus Junction or Hoboken Terminal. However, I want to see the L be extended to NJ as well, and to the new American Dream mall. I imagine the extension will go from 14th Street-8th Avenue to 72nd Street like your proposal, but after that it’ll go west under the Hudson River, towards West New York, making a stop at Bergenline Avenue and 60th Street, near Miller Stadium, then go outside the tunnel to go to Tonnelle Avenue for a connection to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, after which it’ll travel over Cromakill Creek towards its next stop at I-95 (NJ Turnpike), and then finally it’ll go along Route 3 and make a stop at Paterson Plank Road to provide a bus connection to Secaucus Junction, before going underground again, under the Hackensack River, and terminating at American Dream. I believe an extension to American Dream will help boost the number of visitors to the struggling mall and even provide a fast way for sports fans to go from the city to the neighboring MetLife stadium without having to drive a car or take the bus. I know it sounds like a radical idea, but it can definitely work. The Mall could definitely benefit from a Subway extension, and that’s why I believe the L will be able to do just that. I imagine the station design will probably be similar to that of the 1999 London Underground Jubilee Line extension to Stratford, at least for the terminus at American Dream. For the stations in Manhattan, I’d say they would take some inspiration from the Amsterdam Metro, as well as some of the Elevated stations in NJ. 34th Street-Hudson Yards meanwhile should have a Jules Verne-ish steampunk-style design, similar to that of Arts et Meters station on Line 11 of the Paris Metro, given the neighborhood is in proximity to the Hudson River, hence the name. Station names for the proposed L extension: 10th Avenue-West 14th Street (Transfer to M14 SBS) 23rd Street (Transfer to M23 SBS) 34th Street-Hudson Yards (Transfer to 7 and M34/A SBS) 42nd Street (Transfer to 7, with passageway to 42nd Street-PABT on the A, C and E) 49th-50th Streets-Hell’s Kitchen 59th Street-John Jay College 65th Street-Lincoln Center (Transfer to 1) 72nd Street-Broadway (Transfer to 1, 2, and 3) Henry Hudson Parkway-Riverside Park (Transfer to M79 SBS) West New York-Bergenline Avenue Tonnelle Avenue (Connect to HBLR) Secaucus-NJ Turnpike Paterson Plank Road (Transfer to bus to Secaucus Junction) MetLife Stadium-American Dream (Connect to NJ Transit)

Why not to NJ?

This extension is a great idea, and I definitely think it should be done. The only thing, though, is that the 10th Ave / 14th Street station should be on Washington Street instead of 10th Ave, and another station should be added at 50th Street.

Bring the L up 10th Avenue and 50th Street, then onto Northern Blvd in Queens towards Flushing, terminating at Crocheron Avenue. 7 to Hoboken and Jersey City going to Newark via the CNJ Main (Now HBLR) and West Side Ave Branch.

This is cool. If the 7 train was to be extended past Flushing, which of the following do you think would fit best? 1. 20th Avenue and College Point Boulevard 2. Bell Boulevard in Bay Terrace 3. 225th Street and Northern Boulevard

M extension from Steinway St. to LGA and terminating at 114st and Roosevelt. transfer to 7 train 111st station

While I agree expanding the L train uptown I think they should extend the 7 train to 14th Street between 10th and 11th Ave to connect with the L train. So you'll have plenty of transit in the area

This is a great idea - if you build it, they will come. Hopefully this will see shovels in the ground and concrete poured into forms.

all atations on the L extention should have island platofrms to make for easy tranfering

I like extending the L 1 stop to tenth, but I would stretch the 7 down to meet it (along with adding the 42-10th stop) rather than taking this up as the L is somewhat long. It also avoids some excessive transfer duplication. A line that goes from 125 across and then down 10th would be nice but not sure it should be an extension to an existing line or a new one. NYC tends to hate branching so having the 7 go both ways it probably out.

At the 57th Street station, I want a passageway to John Jay College

i actually dont think its nessecary to put a 14 st 10 av stop because going north on 10 av from there you can imagine how big of a turn the L would make which would mean it would have to go snails pace at the turn causing even more delays also if ths L train is extended to harlem i propose stops at the following: 79 St, 92 St, 106 St, 116 St, 125 St, 135 St, 145 St, and terminating at 155 St, st nicolas av with free transfer to the C train

I’ve been proposing this idea for years tho I would add a 50 st station as well.

They should extend the 6 train to Co-op city. There is enough space for a 2 track layout over Pelham Parkway and enough space for a station in between I-95 and the shopping mall.

I was thinking extending the L train the Canarsie Pier but sadly that is infeasible anymore

could we work togther on a video about extend the expess 6 lie train into westchester couty to meet amtrack at new rochelle.

Great video, and I agree.

What is the thing that you use to modify the subway maps

2:06 What website is that cuz I kinda wanna use it (it looks cool btw).

Personally, I'd extend the L similarly to stations at 14th St. park & Chelsea Waterside Park before plugging it into the 7 line at Hudson Yards. Alter platforms along the L so the whole 7&L routes from Flushing to Rockaway Park can take the 11 car A division trains the 7 currently uses and run the line as an extended '7' service providing an arc around Midtown linking the major North-South subway trunk lines and providing improved access to the west of Manhattan. This would also combine the 2 most extensive East-West routes across Manhattan island into one service and as all trains would now run through Manhatten you avoid the service frequency bottle necks that both lines are currently susceptible too with all their trains having to terminate and reverse so close to central Manhattan. With this new line still being grade separated from other subway lines, CBTC signalling and ATO style operations could mean that this line has the shortest headways and, ergo, highest capacity of any line on the system.

If Mini Metro taught me anything it taught me that this version of the L, going all the way up there when it already goes out to Canarsie, BK, would make the L way too long.

Excellent idea. That line should be extended for giving that side of town more choice for transportation.

I’d also like to mention that the reason bus routes on the west ride don’t get much ridership is because their frequencies are atrocious; the only ones that run frequently run crosstown. The development is there (Intrepid, south end of the High Line, Lincoln Sq, a bike path, etc.) but the MTA refuses to run good transit to them. I would absolutely support either an L train extension, or rerouting the 2 or 3 trains to Cristopher st on the PATH for improved 7th ave line headways.

That is also a sign stating that we need the V route back. Same goes for the H,K,V, and IRT 8 & 9 routes back. As we all know NYC, is well undeserved. Meaning that there are still places that really needs transit due to poor bus service and traffic. Walkers like myself doesn't fall into the category depending on the distance. Maybe we might get the chance to get these routes back. Or rerouted into new. However for this to be successful we need the environmental background checks and the collective funds that is a MUST to support these MTA projects. Of course subway crimes no matter the scale of it, will ultimately interfere with the plans of the MTA. And causing NYC to slowly dwindle or decrease overtime by moving into either another state or a whole other country.

I like this, I think phase one should be just to 34st but with bellmouths/tail tracks to allow for future extensions like you said

Am I the only one here who thinks most proposals to extend/build lines within Manhattan would be almost too secondary of a priority compared to building brand new services to more directly connect the outer boroughs to literally any other part of NYC BUT Manhattan? To compliment the upcoming IBX, perhaps the MTA could substantially rehab the: >Verrazzano Narrows >RFK/Triborough >Throgs Neck & Whitestone Bridges to ALL eventually handle LRT & buses on top of existing highway capacity? Be it “clip-on’s” being installed outside the existing highway lanes or under the existing bridge decks some way somehow. Such a thing would overwhelmingly likely take quite a few thousand INTRA-NYC & INTERBOROUGH car trips out of the equation for years to come while what very little highway capacity could be freed up more accordingly for regional & literal interstate traffic (much less commercial vehicles) instead of neighborhood-to-neighborhood/intRAborough and borough to borough. With said highways modernized overtime with said goal in mind- consolidating or even ELIMINATING plentiful redundant ramps within an immediate footprint. The less ramps within a 1-2 mile stretch, the less weaving inbetween, the less interruption for all traffic, the less potential for congestion. And said dedicated LRT/busways ON said suspension bridges isn’t even addressing the substantial potential to directly connect to SEVERAL existing subway lines within the Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens. To which would be almost a night and day difference for the entire city itself!

The l to the 3 in Brooklyn is needed as well from the L train on Livonia Ave to the 3 train Junius st connection

How did you go on the map and extend the L line?

Please, post more frequently!

I agree with this, and I have an idea for an L to Canarsie Pier and K/P(Not skip-stop)

The owl should be extended to 54th St. crew terminal or have a bird track there too make that station attachable giant could ship time. Richway Pretorius can you July just don’t weigh during the cruise ship time. It will be cheaper for them rather than taking a taxi from either airport

The new northern Blvd subway would be perfect for the canarsie line extension constructing from 8 avenue along tenth avenue and 57 or 79 st through the east river and northern Blvd to college point in Queens or past that point

I'd say maybe cobalt blue tiling like Wall Street used to have

Probably gateway center or even kings plaza may not be a bad choice or Canarsie pier

What site did you use to make the line extension