1901
125th anniversary
ConstructionUnited States
New York Subway Groundbreaking
Interborough Rapid Transit
New York City
September 14, 1901
Summary
Construction began on the Interborough Rapid Transit subway system in New York City.
Full Story
Mayor Robert Van Wyck broke ground at City Hall for the IRT subway, the first underground rapid transit line in the Americas. Designed by chief engineer William Barclay Parsons, the project featured cut-and-cover tunnels and innovative electric multiple-unit trains from General Electric. It opened in 1904 and transformed urban mobility, reducing street congestion and enabling the growth of Manhattan and the Bronx as a modern metropolis.
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Quick Facts
- Date
- September 14, 1901
- Event Type
- Construction
- Country
- United States
- Years Ago
- 125
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