[Northern Light]

Follow Up - Grand Central

I checked out Wikipedia's article on Grand Central and Toronto Union Stations.

Grand Central has 1/2 the daily commuters of Toronto Union (125,000)

However, this is partially because Amtrak no longer uses GCT, it now routes all its trains to Penn Station.

But GCT has the largest suburban commuter base as it is the base of the Metro North Railroad.

***

In reading the articles though, this stood out to me

# of platforms

Toronto-Union 14 (28 if you count A & B)

Grand Central 44 platforms (fed by 67 tracks)

***

Current plan, to route the Long Island Railroad to GCT by building an
8 TRACK tunnel 140ft below ground at a cost of over $6 billion U.S.

 

[Edward Skira]

The Long Island Railway tunnel under the East Hudson River was actually built years ago. Its two levels with the subway running above for a number of years now. They recently got the money to finish the tunnel all the way to GC and to complete the connection on the Queen's side to the Long Island Railroad mainline. Pretty impressive project. They are actually building a new terminal for these trains beneath Grand Central. We can dream.

 

[Long Island Mike]

LIRR East Side Access Project..

E7: The LIRR is now building-along with MTA Capital Construction-the East Side Access Project-as mentioned to eventually serve a new terminal deep below Grand Central Terminal. The 63rd Street Tunnel was constructed in the 70s double-deck to allow provisions for this line to be added in the future-which will allow the LIRR to access the E side of Midtown Manhattan relieving the pressure on Penn Station. The upper level of the 63rd Street Tunnel is used by the NYC Transit F and V subway lines. As I am a somewhat regular LIRR rider this will bring major changes for traveling to Manhattan in the future. LI MIKE

 

[Hypnotoad]

April 5

 

[MetroMan]

Thanks for the update CSW2424.

I thought they'd be done by now. It looked nearly done around January. Oh well.. patience is a virtue (specially in Toronto).

Shouldn't take much longer to clean up and pave the road.

 

[DSC]

Shouldn't take much longer to clean up and pave the road.

Last date I heard for the grand opening was July 1 but I have not heard whether it will be one way south (as Simcoe now is down to Front) or a two-way link, as Simcoe is below the tracks.

 

[drum118]

This project is months away from opening as there is a lot going on that cannot be seen at this time.

It is now a one way road going south with no exit to/from the walkway and a police officer has to open the gate onto Station St off Simcoe for traffic only that cannot read signs.

Van sitting on reinforce rebar sidewalk.

Lack of lighting is history with the new system

The sidewalks still have to be added on both sides

 

[Conrad Black]

Thanks for the update Drum118. A good addition to the area.

 

[unimaginative2]

It's definitely going to be two-way through the tunnel. They're looking at changing north of Front, too.

 

[Hipster Duck]

It's very close to University, but I don't mind Simcoe becoming a major traffic arterial. Lord knows its dead enough and wide enough.

 

[EnviroTO]

Van sitting on reinforce rebar sidewalk.

What's up with the sidewalk being level with the asphalt? Is that a temporary thing or are they making it easy for cars to get rid of those pesky pedestrians?

 

[DSC]

What's up with the sidewalk being level with the asphalt? Is that a temporary thing or are they making it easy for cars to get rid of those pesky pedestrians?

Pedestrians are restricted to the west side and ONLY to go to the garage. You cannot get into Station Street or the Skywalk from Simcoe at the moment. The sidwalk/road are 'merged' on the east side - presumably while the work continues to pave the new road.

 

[Hypnotoad]

I think it makes the most sense for the underpass to be two-ways until Front and then the existing section should remain one-way.

As an aside, does any know what street will have access to the parking garage of Shangri-la? That block is surrounded by University (not the best street to have a garage on) and three one-way streets, so maybe they might have an interest in seeing upper Simcoe going two-ways.

 

[CanadianNational]

April 24, 2008

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

that looks soo cool