http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#4532 The MTA plans to expand Metro-North service, which currently terminates at Grand Central Station on the east side, to include some trains that terminate at Penn Station on the west side of Manhattan. While this service expansion is said to be relatively inexpensive, since the necessary rail lines to accommodate the new routes already exist, it is only feasible if the authority can complete its East Side Access project. The East Side Access project will connect the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Grand Central Station, freeing up rail and platform space to allow for the Metro-North expansion. Many Metro-North customers say the expanded service would be very convenient, while others worry that it would result in reduced service to Grand Central. 2008-08-11 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#4527 The East Side Access Project has received a United States Department of Transportation grant for $210 million according to Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. The cost of the project is $7.2 billion. About $3 million in funding is still needed for the project which will connect Long Island Rail Road trains to Grand Central Station. A milestone for the project was recently achieved when a tunnel between Queens and Grand Central was completed. The project is expected to be completed in 2015. 2008-08-07 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#4466 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials have announced that tunnel boring machines working underground have reached Grand Central Terminal in their path to extend the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central. The project, known as the East Side Access, is scheduled for completion in 2015 at a total cost of $7.2 billion. Some observers applauded the announcement, citing the project’s benefits that include traffic alleviation and shortened commutes for Long Island rail riders. 2008-07-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#4412 Progress is being made on the MTA’s East Side Access project that will connect the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Station. The project has been underway for the past 8 months and a boring machine has dug from 63rd Street to Grand Central Terminal. Another parallel tunnel still needs to be dug. Another section will also be dug under Park Avenue and is expected to take 6-8 months. 2008-07-03 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#4180 Jacobs Engineering Group, along with their joint venture partner LiRo Engineers, Inc., received a seven-year contract to provide consulting construction management services to the MTA on the East Side Access project. The contract value is estimated at about $75 million. 2008-04-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3836 Because of rising construction costs, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will be $1.5 billion over budget in its four big construction projects: the 2nd Avenue Subway, East Side Access, the Fulton Street Transit Center and rebuilding the South Ferry terminal. Because of the budget problems, both the 2nd Ave. Subway and the East Side Access project have been delayed. They were both scheduled to open in 2013, but MTA now projects that they will open in 2015. Although the MTA’s five-year capital rebuilding program, which includes all these projects, may be cut back, the MTA does expect to pass the current plan along to legislators. 2008-02-27 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3843 Rising construction costs and $9 billion gap in the MTA’s capital plan are causing delays in several capital projects, including the 2nd Avenue subway line, the East Side Access project, and the Fulton Street Transit Center. In response, the agency has drafted a new capital plan that includes $4.5 million in bonds from the proposed congestion pricing plan and will expand the budget from $21.3 to $29.5 billion. 2008-02-27 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3786 The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is experiencing the highest ridership rates in the past 60 years with nearly 89.1 million passengers in 2007. LIRR officials are using the increased ridership numbers to promote the importance of the East Side Access project which will bring commuters from Long Island into Grand Central Station by 2014. 2008-02-13 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3720 In the $3.1 trillion budget presented to Congress by President Bush this week, $211 million was included for the East Side Access Project that will connect the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Station on the East side. In addition, Bush's budget includes $277 million for construction of the 2nd Avenue Subway. Congress will now review President Bush's budget. 2008-02-05 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3681 The East Side Access Project, 2nd Avenue Subway and the Number 7 Extension line will all be reviewed in the coming month by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an effort to cut costs without compromising the Authority’s transportation goals. The MTA recently scaled back plans for the Fulton Street Transit Center glass entranceway because of costs. High construction and materials costs have lead recently to these transportation projects to be over budget and behind schedule. The three keys projects – East Side Access, 2nd Avenue Subway and the Number 7 Extension – have a combined budget of $12.5 billion. MTA Executive Director Eliot Sander has said that cutbacks will hopefully not directly affect riders. 2008-01-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3585 Mysore Nagaraja, president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Capital Construction Co., is leaving at the end of January to take a consultant position in the private sector. His projects included the LIRR extension to Grand Central Terminal, the Second Avenue subway, the Fulton St. Transit Center and the No. 7 train extension. MTA officials express concern about how Nagaraja's departure will affect delays and rising costs for these projects. 2008-01-09 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3516 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is using eminent domain in order to acquire a converted warehouse that has housed Flux Factory, a non-profit art organization and gallery, for five years. This warehouse, located in Long Island City, is only part of the MTA’s larger plan to acquire land in the neighborhood for the East Side Access project. 2007-12-19 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3507 After a bid to create the new concourse in Grand Central Terminal for the Long Island Rail Road came in $300 million too high earlier this year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been negotiating with the contractor to lower the price. Although the negotiations have been successful, the delays mean that the project will likely be pushed back six months, and will not open until 2014. 2007-12-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3440 The tunnel boring machine has opened roughly 1,350 feet for the East Side Access project over the past month. Currently the machine is under Lexington Avenue and a parallel machine under 2nd Avenue and will begin running shortly. The access will connect LIRR trains to Grand Central Terminal 2007-12-05 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=14#3330 Federal funding for the East Side Access Project and the 2nd Avenue Subway was included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that is awaiting final approval by Congress before it is sent to the President. $170 million was included for the 2nd Avenue Subway between 125th Street and Hanover Square. The 2nd Avenue Subway is expected to transport 600,000 people a day, which will provide some relief to the overcrowded Lexington Subway line. $215 million was included for the East Side Access project, which will connect the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal. The East Side Access Project is expected to be completed by 2014. 2007-11-15 00:00:00