New LIRR terminal for East Side Access Project officially dubbed Grand Central Madison
NEW YORK -- The train project to allow Long Islanders to commute to Manhattan's East Side has been a long time in the making.
CBS2 political reporter Marcia Kramer says while it's not ready just yet, there's finally an official name.
For 24 years, and as the price tag ticked up from $3.5 billion to over $11 billion, it's been known as the East Side Access Project, but now that there is finally some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, Gov. Kathy Hochul has decided to rename and rebrand the long-awaited Long Island Rail Road project with something she calls "a little more distinguished."
"I'm proud to announce that this new LIRR terminal will be called Grand Central Madison," Hochul said Tuesday.
Actually, the estimated 160,000 Long Island commuters who work on the East Side and hated having to go to Penn Station on the West Side only to take the subway back across town probably don't care about the name as long as it's called "open for business" because it will make a huge difference in their lives.
Officials estimate it will increase LIRR service by 40%, with the number of morning rush hour trains increasing from 113 to 158 and afternoon and evening trains increasing from 98 to 158.
Trains will run every 30 minutes to Huntington and Ronkonkoma and every 15 minutes to Mineola and Hicksville.
"That's what this project is about. It's about more service. It's about more options. It's about better connections ... More time for people in their busy lives," MTA chair Janno Lieber said.
"What's the best thing we can give people? And for many families, it's their time. If we can shave 40 minutes off their travel time every day, that's more time to get ready in the morning, make sure the kids' backpacks are packed, they didn't forget their lunch. Maybe at the end of the day, make sure you don't miss a sporting event," Hochul said.
Officials say this is the largest expansion of the LIRR in 112 years, and while there's still no firm opening date, the governor says, "We're on the cusp of saying it's almost done." It might be before the end of the year.