New York Subway Construction Begins

Groundbreaking for New York's first subway line took place on June 26, 1902, under the direction of Chief Engineer William Barclay Parsons. This project addressed severe traffic congestion in the growing metropolis using cut-and-cover tunneling methods. The IRT line, opened in 1904, featured innovative electric multiple-unit trains and stations designed by architects like Heins & LaFarge. It revolutionized urban mobility, influencing subway systems worldwide and enabling the city's explosive growth. The effort involved political battles with Tammany Hall and set standards for rapid transit engineering.