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MTA Long Island Rail Road’s Connection to Grand Central Terminal
GRand Central Terminal Exterior
The East Side Access project will connect the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Main and Port Washington lines in Queens to a new LIRR terminal beneath Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The new connection will increase the LIRR’s capacity into Manhattan, dramatically shorten travel time for Long Island and eastern Queens commuters traveling to the east side of Manhattan, provide a new commuter rail station in Sunnyside Queens, and much more.
Project News

• The first tunnel drive by one of the tunnel boring machines has been completed. Please read the MTA Press Release for more information.
• The June '08 issue of New York Construction, features the 'Top Projects of 2007' and East Side Access is the #1 project in New York. To view the article in its entirety, visit http://newyork.construction.com/
• The 50th St Ventilation Plant design was entered in the AIA (American Institute of Architects) New York Chapters' 2008 Building Type Design competition. The design received a merit award in the ‘Urban Design’ category.
• The SELI TBM has bored more than 1 mile of tunnel and counting, reaching another milestone for the two machines.
• Programmatic Agreement Annual Report available for review (click on Project Documents below)

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MTA/LIRR East Side Access - July 2008