Long Island Rail Road Takes Over Operational Control of Grand Central Madison

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that operational control of Grand Central Madison – the new 700,000 square foot Long Island Rail Road terminal nearing completion underneath Grand Central Terminal – had been transferred to the LIRR from MTA Construction and Development, the MTA’s agency responsible for building the terminal.

The transfer of control, a significant step toward opening the new terminal, occurred at noon on Friday, Dec. 9, and was overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration. The transfer signifies that the rail operations at Grand Central Madison and the tunnels leading to it are now federally regulated railroad territory.

The project continues the final stages of testing. MTA Construction and Development remains active on the site, with contractors testing air flow and life safety systems as well as the escalators and elevators that are essential for the operation of Grand Central Madison.

The new terminal is expected to open before the end of the year. It is the largest passenger rail terminal to be built in the country in 67 years and has been one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects in the United States in recent years. The two-level caverns support four platforms and eight tracks, and upon opening, will provide Long Island’s commuters direct access to Manhattan’s east side, offer new commuting opportunities for reverse peak travelers, and enhance New York’s regional connectivity.

When the LIRR begins full service to Grand Central Madison, it will introduce the largest schedule increase in LIRR history, adding 269 trains per weekday, a 41% systemwide service increase, to 936 trains per weekday from the current 667.

The new terminal will also enable the LIRR to accommodate anticipated customer demand to Manhattan when Amtrak begins a project in 2024 to rebuild its East River Tunnels to Penn Station. The project will take one of the four tunnels out of service, in sequence, over a period of three years, reducing LIRR capacity to Penn Station – capacity the LIRR will be able to maintain to Manhattan with its new tunnels to Grand Central Madison.

-via Press Release

MTA Reaffirms Balanced Budget for 2026 As Increased Operating Efficiencies Further Reduce Out-Year Deficits

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today released its final 2026 operating budget and four-year financial plan, introducing a new round of operating efficiencies over the next four years that significantly reduce out-year deficits announced in the July Financial Plan by a total of $418 million. New cost savings of $675 million are the primary driver of this achievement and raises the cumulative total to more than $2 billion in operating savings through 2029.