Feds Award East Side Access $2.6 billion

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

The federal government has announced it will give $2.6 billion to help extend the Long Island Rail Road into Grand Central Terminal.

REPORTER: US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters was in New York today to sign the agreement with state officials and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow says when the LIRR can go into Grand Central - ridership should increase 45 percent. Senator Charles Schumer says the LIRR has been dealing with overcrowding at Penn Station for years:

SCHUMER: You would think that over the last 10 years well Long Island is growing much more slowly... there would be fewer commuters. There are 20 percent more commuters on the LIRR. It’s hard to get a seat.

REPORTER: The entire project is expected to cost $6.3 billion. The remainder is to be funded through the MTA's Capital Program.

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