NJ transit may get Grand Central connection

[Trainspotter 0]

NJ transit may get Grand Central connection

New Jersey commuters got a step closer to a one-seat ride to Grand Central Thursday.

 

James Simpson, the federal transit administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation, said it was common sense to extend the commuter rail tunnel planned to terminate at Penn Station east to the area around Grand Central Terminal.

 

"We have to find a way while the machines are underground to bring that project further east," Simpson said.

 

The first tunnel being built under the Hudson River in a century -- known as Access to the Regions Core, or ARC -- is expected to ease crowding on the commuter trains to Penn Station. For years, and particularly in a report released last month, the Regional Plan Association has called for bringing the tunnel to Madison Avenue, then north to 44th Street where it could hopefully be connected by a pedestrian tunnel to Grand Central.

 

Full story: - April 11, 2008

[metsfan 2]

This could be great if SAS was completed before this.

 

- Andy

[Brighton Local 703]

Wow. Grand Central is already jammed packed as it is, think of NJ Transit terminating their as well. However, this is indeed would be successful.

[Pablo M 201 35]

I wonder if I'll live to see this......

 

This is really complicated though. NJT trains are assigned platform 1 to about 12. Amtrak has a few inbetween NJT and LIRR, and then LIRR has the higher numbered platforms. NJT would have to go under those tracks somehow after the Penn Station. This might require platforms lower into the ground creating another level.

 

Question is, is it really that needed for NJT trains at Grand Central.

[metsfan 2]

I wonder if I'll live to see this......

 

This is really complicated though. NJT trains are assigned platform 1 to about 12. Amtrak has a few inbetween NJT and LIRR, and then LIRR has the higher numbered platforms. NJT would have to go under those tracks somehow after the Penn Station. This might require platforms lower into the ground creating another level.

 

Question is, is it really that needed for NJT trains at Grand Central.

 

Right now to get to GCT you'd either walk, or do to times square then to GCT. If it takes those people off the packed subway cars between 34th and 42nd that'd be enough for me. I think it would make trips involving say any :nec: station including philly, bwi, ewr etc to metro north service & direct access to the (7x) for mets games, concerts, and people going to lga easier. If you had an airtrain to LGA to jackson heights it would be even better. Also it would ease massive congestion at nyp and allow more service on the (NJT):nec: opening up the possibility of raising the speed limit after amtrak's concrete tie replacement project is complete...... Many possibilities open once you have more (NJT):nec: capacity, you could have :njc: trains run from there too, allowing you to travel in a circle (highlands to manhattan to long branch) instead of a really annoying crescent using only mass transit. It goes on & on...

 

- Andy

[sebbieprops 0]

I don't really see why it's necessary. Penn Station is only 8 blocks away from Grand Central.

[metsfan 2]

I don't really see why it's necessary. Penn Station is only 8 blocks away from Grand Central.

 

Actually its 14 blocks, 13 if you use the LIRR entrance to nyp. At least 2-3 people out of 10 i talk to on the (NJT):nec: train say they are going to use metro-north to complete their trip that day (most of them needing directions to gct), if we can take that 20%-30% not looking for an amtrak or subway link-up and take them directly to where they actually want to go, making peak travel times/days less of a burden on the current routes between the 2 terminals, i say go for it. It would also make for an excellent way to have a back-up in case one of the 2 has to be closed to the public/passengers.

 

- Andy