Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
MTA renames East Side Access project 'Grand Central Madison,' as completion date nears
By
Stephen Nessen
Published May 31, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Stephen Nessen / Gothamist
By
Stephen Nessen
Published May 31, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The MTA has been building an $11 billion terminal for Long Island Rail Road trains under Grand Central Terminal for 15 years now. As construction wraps up and the agency plans to open it by the end of the year, it's also decided to spruce up the decades-in-the-making terminal with a new name.
When commuters from Long Island disembark, they'll be arriving at Grand Central Madison.
The new terminal, which sits more than 100 feet underground, has escalators and elevators that will bring riders to exits that run from 38th to 50th Street along Madison Avenue.
Grand Central Madison—aka the East Side Access project building Long Island Rail Road service under Grand Central Terminal—is on schedule to open in late 2022.
Stephen Nessen / Gothamist
“So you can position yourself on the train so you get out, you go out right to the most convenient exit that takes you exactly where you're going,” MTA Chair Janno Lieber said Tuesday at an announcement for the transit hub’s new name. “That's a huge benefit for the people coming to the busiest part of our business district.”
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the project, though, is it allows the MTA to run more trains from Long Island into the city. The agency is currently working on new schedules and plans to divide trains between Penn Station and Grand Central Madison. The agency expects there to be a 40% increase in trains headed to New York City overall, and a 58% increase in trains headed to Manhattan.
Grand Central Madison—aka the East Side Access project building Long Island Rail Road service under Grand Central Terminal—is on schedule to open in late 2022.
Stephen Nessen / Gothamist
Currently, there are 76 Long Island Railroad trains a day that go into Manhattan during the morning commute. The agency reports that its surveys indicate about half of the commuters would use Grand Central Madison. So, when the new terminal opens, the MTA plans to increase the total number of trains during the morning rush to 120.
Factoring in other Long Island Railroad terminals and stations**,** like Atlantic Terminal and Hunterspoint Avenue in Long Island City, commuters can expect to see the number of trains a day arriving during the morning commute increasing from 113 to 159.
Grand Central Madison—aka the East Side Access project building Long Island Rail Road service under Grand Central Terminal—is on schedule to open in late 2022.
Stephen Nessen / Gothamist
“People have been waiting a long time to have a world class experience when they board the trains at their home on Long Island, when they come to the city they've long deserved a world class experience,” Governor Kathy Hochul said Tuesday. “And they’ll get that.”
Despite the promised increase in train service, nearly 50% of Manhattan office workers said that they wouldn’t be coming into the office on an average weekday this fall, according to a recent survey, by the civic business organization Partnership for New York City.
The survey also found that 78% of businesses plan to continue having a hybrid office giving employees the flexibility to work from home.
Confronted with these numbers, Hochul was unphased.
“If you build it, they will come,” she said.
Tagged
long island rail road
MTA
Kathy Hochul
Grand Central Madison
grand central terminal
mass transit
east side access
Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .