Creating a better east midtown

One Vanderbilt Transit Improvements

Every day, 750,000 people pass through Grand Central Terminal: commuters, shoppers, diners. With the East Side Access scheduled for completion in 2023, the number of commuters is expected to grow significantly—straining already congested transit areas. Right across the street, One Vanderbilt Avenue has been granted zoning approval that will not only provide a world-class office building, but will deliver over $220 million in transit improvements to ease the congestion in the Midtown East Area.

And we’re preparing all the related transit design including a series of on- and off-site transportation improvements.

On-site, commuters will walk through a grand transit hall on 43rd street for direct access to the Grand Central Terminal Concourse. A new transit entrance on 42nd street will provide direct connections to the NYCT GCT - 42nd street station complex as well as the Long Island Railroad East Side Access concourse, 3 levels below.

Off-site, at the Lexington Station (part of the NYCT GCT - 42nd street station complex), we’ll open up platforms, modify existing stairs, and add new stairs to improve platform egress and safety. By expanding the mezzanine area in the basement of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, we’ll fully connect the station throughout. And underneath Lexington Avenue, we’ll reopen an existing passageway then add two new entrances, promoting access to and from the East side of Lexington Avenue.