Mayor Bloomberg, accompanied by his daughters and officials, took a 7 train to the far west side of the city Friday in the first city-funded subway extension in more 60 years.
Swiping his MetroCard in Times Square at the 42nd Street station, Bloomberg rode the 7 train to the new 34th Street-Hudson Square stop near 11th Avenue.
“Welcome to the first subway extension in 60 years,” Bloomberg said. “It’s a perfect symbol of the last 12 years.”
Although the tracks are finished, the station will open for riders next summer.
Taxpayers paid for the $2.4 billion extension, which is part of the larger Hudson Yards Project to redevelop the far west side of Manhattan that Bloomberg has championed.
Construction began on the project in 2007.
The sandhogs, who built the extension, let Bloomberg name the two tunnel-boring machines after his daughters, Emma and Georgina.
“They’ll be riding the subway in the future,” said Bloomberg.
The two rode the train with their father today, as well as DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan, reps from the Hudson Yard project, and MTA officials.
The station platform is 108 feet below the ground. Two high-rise elevators and four escalators will bring straphangers to the surface.