The MTA and LIRR has been aggressively pursuing the East Side Access project that will bring LIRR trains directly into Grand Central Terminal from Queens. Here is a quote from the MTA website about ESA:

“The principal goals of the East Side Access project are to:

• Provide a direct and faster trip between Long Island and East Midtown Manhattan and improve the quality of service for LIRR customers;

• Relieve LIRR train congestion in Penn Station;

• Increase East River commuter rail tunnel capacity and relieve serious overcrowding on LIRR trains to Penn Station and NYCT’s Queens Boulevard and Flushing line trains;

• Promote economic development and quality of life in the New York metropolitan region; and

• Reduce traffic congestion and improve regional air quality.”

From The LIRR website:

“The MTA Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying an average of 288,000 customers each weekday on 728 daily trains.

Nearly 500 of the railroad's daily trains originate or terminate at Penn Station in Manhattan.”

ESA service will allow 300 LIRR trains to operate in and out of Grand Central Terminal during a typical weekday which represents approximately 60, 000 commuters. Certainly this will have a great impact on the operations and foot traffic/ridership at Penn Station.

The two tunnels that bring trains to New Jersey are at capacity during the morning and evening rush. NJT’s ARC project (Access to the Regions Core) addresses additional tunnels and tracks at Penn.

ESA and ARC represent much needed changes to the region’s rail transportation infrastructure. None of the plans I have seen for Farley/Moynihan do anything to increase the working capacity of the transportation infrastructure in and around Penn Station. Yes we plan on having skylights a courtyard and new escalators down to platform level but no additional tracks and tunnels.

In addition to ARC and ESA maybe we need to entertain new access into the downtown/World Trade area. Certainly the time is right to do so and it would help stimulate redevelopment of the area. We will soon have East Side Access to the north of Penn. ESA to the south of Penn is certaily possible if we extend the LIRR from Flatbush avenue westward. This would be another great leap forward to easing the congestion in and out of Penn Station.

How will the ESA and ARC projects affect the Moynihan plan?
Once ESA and ARC are complete, will Moynihan @ Farley be necessary?