Jan. 28, 2016 By Jackie Strawbridge
The MTA has approved contracts for the construction of a Long Island Rail Road terminal under Grand Central, as well as tunnel approaches in Sunnyside connecting that terminal to Queens.
East Side Access is one of the largest transportation projects in the country, with a budget of $10 billion. The MTA estimates that, when completed, it will serve 162,000 customers per day. It is intended to provide an easier commute from Long Island and Queens to the east side of Manhattan via Grand Central.
Service on East Side Access is expected to open in 2022.
The new station under Grand Central in Manhattan will include four platforms and eight tracks. The Tutor Perini Corporation will complete the work for $663 million over 3.5 years.
Tutor Perini also won the Sunnyside contract, valued at $79 million.
The Sunnyside work involves excavation and construction of an approach structure that will connect the LIRR’s existing tracks to one of four new rail tunnels that have been built under Sunnyside Yard. According to MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan, these connections will bring trains from Woodside to the new Grand Central LIRR station; they are unrelated to an East Side Access station that is planned to be built in Sunnyside.
That station will connect to Penn Station and construction is “quite a ways off,” Donovan said.
The Sunnyside contract also involves the replacement of one of the bridges that carry trains from Woodside to Manhattan over 48th Street.
“With the award of these contracts, the eventual completion of East Side Access is starting to come into view,” MTA Capital Construction president Michael Horodniceanu said. “This is the next chapter in the long history of Grand Central Terminal and the growth and development of New York City.”
Sunnyside work is expected to start in late February, Donovan said.
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6 Comments
The ultimate boondoggle is still going? I am not surprised there.
BILLIONS PISSED AWAY FOR 165,000 LAAAAANG AYYYLANDAHS A DAY???
The “L” train serves 300,000 New Yorkers a day and they are getting F—ED FOR A YEAR?
How about a Billion for the “L” train?
While i live in Woodside, just four blocks from the 61t Street Station and a block away from where the LIRR passes by, I cannot disregard to value of all the LIers who support the MTA infrastructure with their $300+ monthly RR tickets plus monthly Metrocard cost for getting from Woodside, GCT, Atlantic Ave, or Penn to their offices. Also, while I m a stay-at-home-mother now, for the ten years I work in the City, I spent most of my money there, instead of in eastern Queens (where I lived at the time), or LI. I did most of my clothes shopping, spent most of my “fun time”, did all shopping – whether drug stores or buying gifts or even food to bring home, in the City. I also spent countless dollars on lunch,supporting small business owners in the City, day in and day out. Commuters are a very important asset to the city’s and the MTA’s finances. The LIRR also has a 300,000 ridership, many of whom ALSO ride the subways daily. Also, don’t forget that the MTA is a state agency, so the term “New Yorkers” here, applies not just ot those of us in the five boroughs. Lastly, as someone who used to have to wait for the the third train before i could squeeze in during the morning rush, I look forward (as I will be returning to work) to one day finding relief as this project will reduce volume on the 7 train as commuters won’t need to change at Flushing or Woodside, from their LIRR service, but will be able to get in via direct access. Sorry so long…
Remember when they said this would open in 2012? Now its another 6 years we have to wait with no end in sight.
they did ALL THAT WORK and didnt have approved contracts until now?! is that possible?
Glad to hear grand central is finally on board!!! if not maybe we could have rerouted somewhere else like secaucus
Oh joy, more noise with nothing for the surrounding community.