Comments on: Tunnel Vision: Inside the East Side Access Project http://archive.longislandpress.com/2011/04/21/inside-the-east-side-access-project/ Serving the opinion leaders of Long Island Sun, 28 Oct 2012 12:30:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: R Troy http://archive.longislandpress.com/2011/04/21/inside-the-east-side-access-project/comment-page-1/#comment-141222 R Troy Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:41:22 +0000 http://www.longislandpress.com/?p=170200#comment-141222 Experts I’ve heard from say that MTA found the most expensive way possible of making the connection to Grand Central, the ultra deep down station they are building there. It’s been said that alternatives to the deep hole would have meant great cost savings. At this point, we can only hope that MTA gets it right.

Yes, the LIRR level of the 63rd St tunnel was a smart thing to build at the same time as the subway tunnel was. But the foresight only went so far. Someone forgot to figure out the proper height needed for commuter trains to fit. As a result, the tunnel was built with the roof a few inches too low to fit any of LIRR’s diesel powered trains. Only electrics will fit. So the frequently announced ‘one seat ride to GCT from LI doesn’t help many passengers. And LIRR has not really said much about how diesel based passengers will get from their trains to GCT bound trains. Will this be another case of change at Jamaica? Or will there be a Hillside transfer station? Or have they not figured this out yet?

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