The Second Avenue Line was originally proposed in 1919 as part of a massive expansion of what would become the Independent Subway System (IND).

[4] Numerous plans for the Second Avenue Subway appeared throughout the 20th century, but these were usually deferred due to lack of funds.

[8] The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposed a full-length Second Avenue Subway as part of its 1968 Program for Action.

[11] A combination of Federal and State funding was obtained, and despite the controversy over the number of stops and route, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 27, 1972, at Second Avenue and 103rd Street.

[11][12][13] In December 1972, the New York City Transit Authority started soliciting bids for the construction of Section 13 of Route 132-A, which was between 110th and 120th Streets in East Harlem.

The contract was awarded on March 20, 1973, and, in that month, construction of the segment by Cayuga-Crimmins began at a cost of $35.45 million (equivalent to $258,218,000 in 2023).

In their request for funding, they cited that they wanted to avoid an uncertain response from the first administration of Donald Trump and start construction on Phase 2 as soon as possible.

[39] In January 2017, it was announced that Phases 2 and 3, which are expected to cost up to a combined $14.2 billion, were on the Trump administration's priority list of 50 most important transportation projects nationwide.

The updated report indicated that the 116th Street station would be relocated about 30 feet (9.1 m) north compared to what had been proposed in the 2004 FEIS, eliminating a curve at the south end of the platform.

[42]: Figure 2-2A  Under the new plan, the station would also include extra elevators in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

However, by April 2019, it was decided to simply build a platform over the center trackway, instead of totally rebuilding the structure, to save a considerable amount of money.

[45] There will be a mezzanine built at the station with ancillary space on either side, and the height between the platform and the ceiling will be 16 feet 8 inches (5.08 m).