East Side Access links to Grand Central North make Metro-North connections easy

East Side Access has a number of pretty significant design flaws that will invariable haunt us for decades to come (putting the platforms 140+ feet below Park Avenue is one example that comes readily to mind).  But one design element the MTA did get right is the connections between the LIRR's new Madison Concourse and Grand Central North, which will make connections between the LIRR and Metro-North very easy and smooth.

The new Madison Concourse is the spine of East Side Access, running north to south underneath Madison Avenue from the existing GCT Headhouse at 43rd Street all the way up to 48th Street.  Reference this map of the ESA facilities from the MTA's website to help orient yourself.  The LIRR platforms at NY-Grand Central sit quite a bit to the north of the existing GCT headhouse and Metro-North's platforms (LIRR platforms are between 45th and 48th Streets, Metro-North's platforms start around 43rd Street and most trains run as far north as about 45th or 46th Streets, though the platforms continue for longer).  It's quite a hike to go from the LIRR platforms all the way back to the existing GCT headhouse.

But the north-south Madison Concourse very cleanly intersects with the existing 45th and 47th Street Cross Passageways, which are part of Grand Central North.  Built in the 1990's, Grand Central North consists of 2 east-west concourses that sit below the 000-level tracks underneath 47th Street, and below the 100-level tracks underneath 45th Street.  It was designed to provide a second set of entrances to each of the existing Metro-North platforms at Grand Central.  Prior to the construction of Grand Central North, the only way to board and alight Metro-North trains was through the Main Concourse or Dining Concourse from the GCT headhouse.  This meant that trains suffered from chronic uneven loading (since everyone wanted to be at the south end so they could board/alight quickly) and those who were bound for places north of NY-Grand Central had to walk south only to double back at street level.  Initial reports following the opening of Grand Central North showed that Grand Central North saved riders an average of 7 minutes per trip and cut platform clearance times by 2 minutes.

Easy links to Grand Central North

Vertically, the Madison Concourse sits between the 45th and 47th Street Cross Passages at their far west ends.  The Madison Concourse is at level -5 (about 50 feet below street level).  The 47th Street Cross Passage (for the 000-level tracks) is up at level -3 (about 30 feet below street level) and the 45th Street Cross Passage (for the 100-level tracks) sits below at level -6 (about 60 feet below street level).

The east staircase/escalator from the Madison Concourse to the 
47th Street Cross Passage for Metro-North (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The entrance down to the Madison Concourse is between 
tracks 35 and 36, on the south side (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The Madison Concourse integrates directly into the 47th Street Cross Passage (for the 000-level tracks) and the GCT North entrances in the existing JP Morgan Chase building at 383 Madison Avenue.  There are 3 staircases and 1 elevator from the Madison Concourse at level -5 up to the west that tie either directly into the GCT North lobby or the west end of the 47th Street Cross Passage at level -3.  There is also another set of stairs and 1 escalator on the east side of the Maidson Concourse that provide a more direct link to the Metro-North tracks.  This shortcut pops up into the 47th Street Cross Passage between the gates to tracks 35 and 36 at level -3.

From this point, it's a short walk along the length of the concourse to reach any Metro-North train departing from the existing GCT upper level (you have to walk up another set of stairs to level -1 or level -2 to board the train). The 47th Street Cross Passage goes all the way down to track 11 with the exception of tracks 23, 24, 32, and 33.  The platforms for these tracks were cut back to make room for the Northeast and Northwest Passages' entrances up to street level.  For these tracks, you will have to walk up to the Northeast Passage (for tracks 23-24) or the Northwest Passage (for tracks 32-33) at level -1, walk south, take a staircase down to a short underpass at level -2 and then another staircase back up to the platform at level -1.

There is a simple staircase connecting the Madison Concourse
to the 45th Street Cross Passage (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The staircase and elevator from the 45th Street Cross Passage
to the Madison Concourse (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The existing GCT lower level platforms are set further south, and the GCT North concourse for the 100-level tracks is located underneath 45th Street.  There is a staircase and one elevator from the Madison Concourse at level -5 that goes down to the 45th Street Cross Passage at level -6 (there is no escalator).  The staircase and elevator to the 45th Street Cross Passage is tucked behind and to the east of the 45th Street escalator bank down to the LIRR caverns, on the east side of the Madison Concourse (there are no stairs at the west side as there are fewer 100-level tracks).   The staircase and elevator meet the 45th Street Cross Passage at its far west end, beyond track 115.  

The 45th Street Cross Passage was either extended slightly or renovated to incorporate the LIRR connection (the finishes look newer/cleaner and the lighting is much brighter).  The 45th Street Cross Passage then has staircases that go up to platforms for boarding trains on the 100-level tracks at level -4, as well as staircases, 1 escalator, and 1 elevator to the Northeast and Northwest Passages at level -1.  You can also use the 45th Street Cross Passage as a shortcut to get to and from the existing GCT North street entrances at the east and west sides of 230 Park Avenue (The Helmsley Building), though beware that there is only a single escalator from the 45th Street Cross Passage at level -6 up to the Northeast and Northwest Passages at level -1, and it is usually in running down—so you'll have a lot of steps to climb.  It would probably be just as fast to go up to 47th Street and double back.

These links make it very east to go between LIRR and Metro-North trains at NY-Grand Central.  And, the best part is, because Grand Central North is much lower trafficked than the GCT headhouse (especially at off-peak hours), you will be at the quieter north end of the train coming and going.

But while these shortcuts to Grand Central North take a lot of the time off going between LIRR and Metro-North, it's still by no means a quick or easy walk.  By time you climb out of the caverns from the LIRR platforms, walk along the Madison Concourse, go up or down to Grand Central North, find your track, go up to the platform, and board the other train, it can take some time—and give you quite the workout in the process.  There are significant number of vertical level changes, and you often have to go down just to come back up, or vice-versa.  For example, to go from LIRR track 203 to Metro-North track 103, this is the route you would take:

• Exit the LIRR train at level -10
• Walk down to the cavern mezzanine at level -11
• Take the escalator banks up to the Madison Concourse at level -5
• Walk down to the 45th Street Cross Passage at level -6
• Walk up to the Metro-North platform at level -4
• Board the Metro-North train at level -4

So when you roll your eyes at your grandparents telling you they had to walk to school "uphill both ways" when they were kids, you can tell your grandkids someday that you had to walk up stairs both ways when connecting between LIRR and Metro-North.  (and it's even worse if you're going to tracks 23, 24, 32, or 33—for those you have to go from level -10 down to level -11 then up to level -5 then up to level -3 then up to level -1 then down to level -2 then back up again to level -1 and then finally board your train!).

Step-free connections much more difficult

While the shortcuts to Grand Central North make connections between LIRR and Metro-North much faster—albeit it with quite the walk—making these connections is much more difficult for people with mobility impairments or require step-free access.  It's important to note that while there are elevators from the Madison Concourse to both the 45th and 47th Street Cross Passages, there is no step-free access from Grand Central North to the Metro-North platforms (with a small number of exceptions).  If you cannot climb several flights of stairs, you will have to take a much longer detour back via the existing GCT headhouse, as step-free access to Metro-North's platforms is only available at the far south end of each platform.

This ramp offers the only step-free access between the ESA facilities
and the existing GCT headhouse (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The step-free route to the GCT headhouse requires moving along the
platform and finding an unmarked double door for the ramp
down to the ESA facility (Photo: The LIRR Today)

At the moment, the only step-free route between the East Side Access facilities and the existing GCT headhouse is via a convoluted and very poorly signed route using the 100-level track platforms.  At the far south end of the Madison Concourse, to the north side of the staircase and escalators up to the dining concourse, there is a ramp that will take you from the Madison Concourse at level -5 up to the Metro-North 100-level track platforms at level -4.  The ramp puts you out near track 112 on level -4.  If your connecting train departs from one of the 100-level tracks, then you can stay at this level and move along the south ends of the platforms, which are all connected.  In order to go up to the Dining Concourse at level -3 or the Main Concourse at level -1 to board trains from the 000-level tracks, you then have to find northwest elevator bank, which is tucked away between tracks 112 and 113, just to the south.  Then once you are back at the upper level, you can move along the south end of those platforms to reach tracks 14-21, 23-30, and 32-37 which are also on level -1.  In order to reach tracks 11, 13, and 38-42 (which are set down lower on level -2), you have to use an additional wheelchair lift or elevator to reach those platforms.

So if you are arriving at the east end of a LIRR train coming into NY-Grand Central and want to connect to Metro-North, you have a significant distance to travel—and as many as 4 elevator trips to make:

• Exit the LIRR train at level -10 or level -12.
• Move along the platform to the elevators just south of 47th Street
• Take an elevator to the cavern mezzanine at level -10
• Move along the mezzanine to the elevator bank up to the Madison Concourse
• Take an elevator up to the Madison Concourse at level -5
• Move south along the Madison Concourse from 47th Street to 43rd Street
• Use the ramps to the side of the staircases and escalators to the Dining Concourse to go up to the 100-level track platforms at level -4
• Move south along track 112 to the northwest elevator bank
• Take an elevator up to the Main Concourse at level -1
• Move along the Main Concourse to find your track
• Take an additional elevator down to level -2 for certain tracks
• Double back north along the platform to find your place on the train

Once the connection from the Madison Concourse at level -5 up to the Biltmore Room at level -1 is complete, there will be an additional elevator between 43rd and 44th Streets that will take you up to the Main Concourse, saving 2 of the steps above.

MNR GCT station staff, in enemy territory, practicing how to assist riders 
using wheelchairs between LIRR and Metro-North (Photo: The LIRR Today)

LIRR and Metro-North have stepped up their call-ahead assistance programs for riders with mobility impairments ("LIRR Care" and the similar, recently-renamed "Metro-North Care" programs).  Riders who want to transfer between the two systems and need assistance can contact the first railroad they'll be travelling on with information about their trip, and they will coordinate with the other railroad to help you traverse NY-Grand Central and get to your connecting train (and hopefully pass along the information to the other railroad so you can get assistance at your final destination).  So if you do have mobility issues, I would recommend calling ahead and seeking assistance, at least for the first few times. Also, even if you are not disabled/ambulatory but have trouble walking long distances, the service is also available to you, and the railroads can provide a wheelchair so you don't have to walk three-quarters of a mile on your own (similar to airports).  The LIRR recommends people who require mobility assistance schedule at least 20 to 30 minutes between trains to go from one part of the station to the other.

Mobility assistance programs are not an acceptable substitute for adequate step-free facilities.  While the sheer size and the fundamental design flaws with East Side Access make navigating this facility in a wheelchair a huge challenge, it is good to see the railroads getting up to speed on this alternative.  Adding elevators from Grand Central North to each of the platforms would likely be too much of a burden—especially given the needs for elevators elsewhere in the MTA system.  But the MTA should do a much better job with wayfinding signage so people can easily find the necessary route and not get lost or sidetracked.

Wayfinding and harmonization need improvement

The lack of clear wayfinding is not an issue limited to just step-free routes (or even to connections between LIRR and Metro-North).  Signage directing riders between the LIRR and Metro-North portions of the station is in significant need of improvement, in both directions.  If you don't know where to look, it can be quite difficult to find the right staircases or escalators to take you to the other portion of the station.

Signage directing you to the ESA facilities is rudimentary, to say the least
(Photo: The LIRR Today)

A future display for MNR departures, one of very few in the LIRR parts
of the station (Photo: The LIRR Today)

In Grand Central North, most of the signage directing you to the LIRR tracks consists of an 11x17 word document printed out, laminated, and taped onto the walls using scotch tape.  It comes off as rather tacky for a nearly $12 billion project.  Obviously it is still early, and there is time for LIRR and Metro-North to step up their game and do more to harmonize and improve wayfinding signage throughout the NY-Grand Central complex (which was bad even in the original GCT headhouse).

More of an issue, though, is that LIRR and Metro-North seem to be intent on keeping their digital signage entirely separate.  There is little trace of Metro-North train information in the LIRR portions of the station (except for a single sign near each of the connection staircases, most of which are not up and running yet).  This is bad, and is repeating one of the same, unforced mistakes from NY-Penn Station that makes that complex so confusing and disorienting.  Riders now first need to know who's turf they're on, and then make sure that's right or find the other railroad, before seeking out information on where to go to board their train.  I'll have more thoughts on signage and wayfinding across NY-Grand Central in the coming days.

Grand Central North hours expanded

Grand Central North has been closed on weekends for most of its life
(Photo: the LIRR Today)

Since Grand Central North provides the easiest and fastest connections between the LIRR and Metro-North at NY-Grand Central, the MTA is expanding the hours the north end concourses are open.   When Grand Central North was first completed, the facility was originally open 7 days a week.  But in 2005, Metro-North cut back hours and closed Grand Central North all weekend to save about $650k per year in maintenance costs (page 43).  There was also a satellite station master's office located in GCT North open during rush hours that was closed around this same time.

For most of the last two decades, Grand Central North has only been open from 6:30a to 9:30p Mondays through Fridays, and closed on weekends and holidays.  But now that East Side Access is open, the MTA says that Grand Central North will now be open whenever the ESA facilities are open, 7 days a week.  That is a significant expansion, and now means Grand Central North will be available for Metro-North the entire time from about 5a to about 2a, 7 days per week (the two railroads share similar operating hours).  So, at least in this small way, Metro-North riders are benefitting from East Side Access, too!

GCT North doesn't share the same finish and flash of the existing
GCT headhouse (Photo: The LIRR Today)

Some work appears to be getting done at GCT North, but the concourses
 could use a little more love (Photo: The LIRR Today)

If you've never visited Grand Central North, it was built in the 1990's—and very much looks like it.  The color scheme and decor is very 90's, and, to be frank, it looks like Metro-North hasn't done that much to it since the 90's.  It is rather run down, grimy, and dim in areas.  It served its previous purpose of just being a shortcut for commuters shuffling to and from MNR trains pretty well, but now that it has an expanded purpose, hopefully Metro-North can make some repairs and upgrades to GCT North in the coming years.  There is no seating anywhere in GCT North, nor (as far as I'm aware) any restrooms or most of the other common customer amenities.  There are two Metro-North ticket machines at the far west end of the 47th Street Cross Passage for the 000-level tracks, but I didn't see any MNR ticket machines in the 45th Street Cross Passage for the 100-level tracks (hopefully that's something addressed ASAP).

So, if you're looking to try out the new connection between LIRR and Metro-North at NY-Grand Central, Grand Central North offers a great shortcut.  While the architecture isn't nearly as impressive and grand as the main GCT headhouse, it offers an easy and quick way to get between LIRR and Metro-North trains, without much fuss.