NEW YORK | Grand Central Station/Mezzanine/Concourses Renovation

Continuing the discussion from NEW YORK | Midtown East - Vanderbilt Avenue Rezoning:

$210M upgrade for Grand Central’s subway unveiled

ANDREW J. HAWKINS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 12:09 P.M.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CN/20140908/BLOGS04/140909874/AR/0/One-Vanderbilt-.jpg?q=100&cci_ts=20140908145813

Three new staircases to the subway platforms, two new street-level entrances and a refurbished mezzanine level, including the opening up a series of enclosed spaces to create new hallways, plus a 4,000-square-foot ground-level “waiting area” for commuters: All that and more is being promised by developer SL Green as part of its planned five-year, $210 million effort to give Grand Central’s subway station a significant upgrade.

What’s more, all of that must be completed before tenants will be allowed to occupy the developer’s new 1 Vanderbilt, the 65-story office tower planned for an entire city block just west of Grand Central, north of East 42nd Street. The transit improvements were hammered out with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the de Blasio administration earlier this year as the first piece in the massive midtown east rezoning project.

[…]

The most significant changes will be made to the Lexington Avenue line station, which currently sees an average of 154,000 riders per day and is the second-busiest station in the system. New staircases will be added to the northbound and southbound ends of the 4/5/6 platform, bringing the total number of mezzanine-to-platform staircases to five. In addition, all the staircases will be narrowed, as will the columns adjacent to the staircases, to allow an easier pedestrian traffic flow from end to end of the platform. New turnstiles and a raised platform will be added to the north end of the mezzanine that will connect to the street-level staircases.

The hope is that with the improvements, the MTA will be able to run at least one additional train along the Lexington Avenue line per hour, or an average of 1,100 additional riders, to relieve congestion.

[…]

After the land-use review process is over, SL Green plans to begin construction on both 1 Vanderbilt and the transit improvements concurrently. But the bottom line for the developer is that everything will need to be completed—all the staircases, hallways, new turnstiles and mezzanine improvements—before any tenants will be allowed to occupy their new building in January 2020, the expected completion date.

“We’re responsible for cost overruns, we’re responsible for construction oversight,” Mr. Schiffer said. “It’s our project to build, not the MTA’s.”

3 Likes

Very nice updates Eveningstar. Thanks for the contributions. :slight_smile:

1 Like

Thank you! I wasn’t sure how to properly name the thread so if someone wants to change it or has a better idea, please do so!!

1 Like

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/22/midtown_giant_one_vanderbilt_mostly_wows_at_landmarks.php

http://cdn.cstatic.net/gridnailer/500x/http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/53ce9f5df92ea1448b00cb18/1vanderbilt_evanbindelglass_140722_05.jpg

http://secondavenuesagas.com/2014/09/09/a-glimpse-at-the-200m-transit-plans-for-one-vanderbilt/

http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_22_Transit-Improvement-42nd-Street-Entry.jpg
New entrances to the Shuttle platform along East 42nd St. (Via KPF)

http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_26_Transit-Improvement-Lexington-Station-SB-Platform-1.jpg
Smaller columns and narrower staircases will open up more platform space on the Lexington Ave. line. (Via KPF)

http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_28_Transit-Improvement-Lexington-Station-Expanded-Mezzanine.jpg
The Grand Central subway’s mezzanine level will see more space as columns are narrowed. (Via KPF)

http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_30_Transit-Improvement-Shuttle-Express-Street-Connection.jpg
A new entrance will funnel riders from the Shuttle to One Vanderbilt. (Via KPF)

http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_24_Transit-Improvement-Lexington-Station-Expanded-Control-Area.jpg
Expanded fare control area will be a part of the $200 million in transit upgrades. (Via KPF)

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/540e18b0f92ea1764f002564/KohnPedersenFoxAssociatesPC_OneVanderbilt_10_Transit-Hall-Elevation-Along-Vanderbilt.jpg
A glimpse into One Vanderbilt’s Transit Hall. (Via KPF)

1 Like

"The North End Entrance to Tracks 32 and 33 at Grand Central Terminal will be closed starting Tuesday, March 10, through the 4th quarter of 2020.

The entrance is being closed to accommodate structural reframing of the stairs leading from the west spine of Grand Central Terminal to the North End Passage leading to Tracks 32 and 33, as part of the East Side Access project.

During this time, the south end entrance to Tracks 32 and 33 will remain open.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to complete these important improvements."

http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/NorthEntranceTrack32n33.html

3 Likes

the future Long Island Rail Road platforms and deep escalator

Installing paneling for one of the many escalators in the future LIRR passenger terminal. 09-09-20 by MTA Construction & Development Mega Projects, on Flickr

Cleaning the escalators, units, and machinery in one of the four wellways in the future LIRR passenger concourse. by MTA Construction & Development Mega Projects, on Flickr

10 Likes

And they knew about it for a year?

god forbid these guys have a place to deflate after working a full shift in those conditions. :roll_eyes: who snitched?

3 Likes

Right?! I don’t understand the issue. The MTA robs us on the daily. I could care less a few employees created a clean space to chill out.

1 Like

It’s more symbolic than anything else. Plus they have a break room with tv and microwave.

Preparation and layout for the installation of support brackets for tunnel booster fans that will provide ventilation in the Queens tunnels. 11-19-20 by MTA Construction & Development Mega Projects, on Flickr

Layout for the installation of conduit between stations in the Queens tunnels. 11-19-20 by MTA Construction & Development Mega Projects, on Flickr

4 Likes
9 Likes

I am looking forward to checking all of this out once everything is safe.

3 Likes

official MTA photos of the new entrances

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

MTA Grand Opening of New Entrances to Grand Central from One Vanderbilt Avenue by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, on Flickr

9 Likes
4 Likes

Some photos I took yesterday of the One Vanderbilt concourse

12 Likes

B1M has a new video on YouTube titled Grand Central’s 11 BN Underground Expansion, very informative.

3 Likes
3 Likes

Love to see it! :+1: