If you've ever taken the 4, 5, or 6 trains during rush hour, you know there's a big need for the 2nd Avenue subway line.

Here's how it usually goes. There are easily hundreds of exhausted people all jostling for a position on the platform. The train squeals up, the doors wrench open, and the people on the platform see a train already packed to the brim. 

So, the fact that the funding has just been cut for the construction of the 2nd Avenue subway line from $1.5 billion to $535 million is pretty devastating. We will say though, that perhaps it isn't the most dire change necessary for the MTA to make over the next four years.

The budget cut to the implementation of the 2nd Avenue subway line could slow plans to bring the line to 125th Street in East Harlem. The Q line extension is currently expected to open at 96th Street in December of 2016, according to The New York Times.

The 2nd Avenue subway line aside, though, there were actually some very excellent changes to the MTA's 2015-2019 capital plan.

Mayor de Blasio highlighted $300 million in city projects he secured in the 2015-2019 capital plan, including $30 million for a new pedestrian pathway connecting the Livonia Avenue and Junius Street stations in Brooklyn.

At Mayor de Blasio's urging, the plan also includes a $5 million for the Utica Avenue subway study, which is an idea that's been debated for one hundred years in an area of the city officials (and residents) argue needs better transit access.

The study explores the possibility of extending the Utica Avenue subway stop.

All-in-all, the MTA's new $29 billion capital plan has been scaled back by $3 billion from their original plan. It was approved in a unanimous vote on Wednesday by MTA's board.

The deal calls for New York State to $8.3 billion over five years toward the plan, and for the city to contribute $2.5 billion over five years. Which is clearly a massive increase from the city's initial commitment of $657 million.

diamondgpt Looks crazy here but we'll open at 5. They are working on the #2ndavenuesubway franklin street extension out front. #laststopdiamond

The plan also calls for new train cars and buses, updated subway signal systems and work on a new fare payment system.

Now, that the MTA's board has approved the capital plan, it must be run through the State's Capital Program Review board. This is made up of the Governor, the Mayor, the Assembly Speaker, and the Senate Majority Leader.

We'll let you know if we hear that this new and updated plan has made it through that legislative barrier, too.

Check out No Kidding, Over 10 Subway Lines Will Increase Service in 2016!

[Feature Image Courtesy The New York Times]