Construction Complete on East Side Access Project, Opening to the Public in 2022

By
Stephen Nessen
WNYC News | May 27, 2021

Governor Cuomo and the MTA say major construction is completed on the 15-year long, $11 billion project known as East Side Access. Long Island Railroad trains will finally be able to use Grand Central Terminal.

The idea is to take the burden off Penn Station. Despite the new Moynihan Train hall, which recently opened, Penn wasn’t designed to handle the pre-pandemic load of commuters and trains.

Nearly half of the Long Island Railroad trains will be sent to Grand Central. The new tracks are 7 stories below ground. The platform looks like the new stations along the Second Avenue subway. The concourse has low ceilings, reminiscent of Penn Station. And marble lined walls, which match the kind found in Grand Central Terminal.

It's expected to open to the public, sometime next year.

 

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Stephen Nessen

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