The MTA's deadline to open the Second Avenue Subway is quickly approaching, and the agency is sticking to its target date - for now.
The 72nd Street station continues to be a potential roadblock, with testing on its escalators and elevators still not complete.
A report by the MTA's Independent Engineering Consultant also points out that testing is underway at 10 out of 13 escalators at the 86th Street stop.
Testing on the others could wrap up by December 14, but that is 30 days later than anticipated.
Train crews are already making trial runs to and from the new stations, which also includes 96th Street.
"Starting a revenue service, testing for train crews are good signs. But there's still a ways to go. And we're still hopeful at this time for December 31," said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast.
The consultant's report says progress needs to be "almost tripled" on a weekly basis if the line is to open by the end of the year.