EPA press release on WTC cleaning hotline launch, June 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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The Lower Level Lexington Connection will provide a new pedestrian route linking the lower platform levels of the Metro-North terminal with the mezzanine of the Lexington Avenue sub­ way station. The existing routes, particularly the escalators, become overcrowded at rush hour and queues build up. The new connection adds a third route, which will be much more direct for those Metro- North passengers arriving at the lower level. These riders could save upwards of five minutes on their trip downtown. Diverting a share of the Metro-North traffic to the new connec­ tion also will make the existing routes less crowded and will shorten walk times through the ter­ minal for all Metro-North customers heading downtown.

A passageway leading southward from the end of the lower level Metro-North platforms at Grand Central will be constructed to provide direct access to the underside of the Lexington Avenue Line platforms and tie into one of the existing vertical pedestrian connections between the Lexington Line and the #7 Flushing lane, providing a new direct route to both subway lines. Additional vertical movement capacity will be provided to and from the subway platforms, and options exist for providing escalator connections at the Metro-North end of the passageway to both the upper and lower concourses of Grand Central Terminal, as well as to the proposed new terminal for the Long Island Rail Road at Grand Central.

The Lower Level Lexington con­ nection is estimated to cost in the range of S50 to S75 million and can be completed within 3-4 years, depending upon the complexity and scope of improvements undertaken, which will be determined once engi­ neering studies by NYC Transit have been completed.

The new Lower Level Lexington Line pedestrian connection will save commuters up Io 5 minutes in their ftp to Lower Manhattan.

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