The roughly 72,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders who useGrand Central Madisonhave a new entrance to the terminal.Top MTA officials on Friday cut the ribbon on the newly opened 45th Street and Madison Avenue entryway to Grand Central Madison — the first and only LIRR station on Manhattan’s East Side, whichopened to the public in early 2023. Grand Central also serves MetroNorth and the subway.“This entrance is extraordinary, we’re really happy with how it turned out,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, the president of MTA Construction and Development.The entrance is accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring an elevator and three escalators, as well as a staircase.The project was the result of a public-private-partnership between the MTA and the developer BXP, which is building an office tower at the site — 343 Madison Ave.Torres-Springer said the $64 million project marks the third of five new entrances to Grand Central Madison being built using public-private partnerships. The remaining two unopened entrances lay north at 383 Madison Ave./, which had already been opened, but was temporarily closed amid building renovations, and on 48th Street.A view inside of the new Grand Central Madison entrance at 45th Street and Madison Avenue. Friday, May 22, 2026.Marc A. Hermann / MTAThe MTA also built two additional entrances to the station.The transit authority owns the land; its former headquarters previously stood there for decades. RXP agreed to build the entrance as part of its broader construction effort. The project resulted from the city’s2017 Midtown East rezoning.MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agreement will also allow the MTA to rake in a projected $1 billion over time from lease payments and property tax revenues for the site. Those dollars will go toward the agency’s capital program, he said.Lieber also noted “just how important” the East Side LIRR terminal is. He pointed to how riders were able to use it as an alternative to Penn Station late last week, when anelectrical fire snarled LIRR service at the West Side hub.“This is the backup that we always needed for Long Island Rail Road folks,” Lieber said, comparing Grand Central Madison to the Gateway project to improve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Service into Penn.“[It makes] sure that if one terminal, like we had last week, is out of service, there’s an alternative way to travel,” he said. “And if we hadn’t had this last week, thousands and thousands of people would have been shut down.”The transit boss said the facility will also serve as a crucial alternative to Penn Station during the FIFAWorld Cup Finalnext month. The competition is expected to see an influx of revelers taking NJ Transit via Penn Station to get to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the eight championship soccer matches will be played.“This additional capacity is also going to be a huge help during the World Cup,” he said. “While we do plan to keep Penn open for Long Island Rail Road customers throughout the tournament, even on match days, regular commuters are, if they go to Penn, going to be encouraged to switch to Grand Central Madison, just to avoid the crowds.”

Top MTA officials on Friday cut the ribbon on the newly opened 45th Street and Madison Avenue entryway to Grand Central Madison — the first and only LIRR station on Manhattan’s East Side, whichopened to the public in early 2023. Grand Central also serves MetroNorth and the subway.

“This entrance is extraordinary, we’re really happy with how it turned out,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, the president of MTA Construction and Development.The entrance is accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring an elevator and three escalators, as well as a staircase.The project was the result of a public-private-partnership between the MTA and the developer BXP, which is building an office tower at the site — 343 Madison Ave.Torres-Springer said the $64 million project marks the third of five new entrances to Grand Central Madison being built using public-private partnerships. The remaining two unopened entrances lay north at 383 Madison Ave./, which had already been opened, but was temporarily closed amid building renovations, and on 48th Street.A view inside of the new Grand Central Madison entrance at 45th Street and Madison Avenue. Friday, May 22, 2026.Marc A. Hermann / MTAThe MTA also built two additional entrances to the station.The transit authority owns the land; its former headquarters previously stood there for decades. RXP agreed to build the entrance as part of its broader construction effort. The project resulted from the city’s2017 Midtown East rezoning.MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agreement will also allow the MTA to rake in a projected $1 billion over time from lease payments and property tax revenues for the site. Those dollars will go toward the agency’s capital program, he said.Lieber also noted “just how important” the East Side LIRR terminal is. He pointed to how riders were able to use it as an alternative to Penn Station late last week, when anelectrical fire snarled LIRR service at the West Side hub.“This is the backup that we always needed for Long Island Rail Road folks,” Lieber said, comparing Grand Central Madison to the Gateway project to improve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Service into Penn.“[It makes] sure that if one terminal, like we had last week, is out of service, there’s an alternative way to travel,” he said. “And if we hadn’t had this last week, thousands and thousands of people would have been shut down.”The transit boss said the facility will also serve as a crucial alternative to Penn Station during the FIFAWorld Cup Finalnext month. The competition is expected to see an influx of revelers taking NJ Transit via Penn Station to get to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the eight championship soccer matches will be played.“This additional capacity is also going to be a huge help during the World Cup,” he said. “While we do plan to keep Penn open for Long Island Rail Road customers throughout the tournament, even on match days, regular commuters are, if they go to Penn, going to be encouraged to switch to Grand Central Madison, just to avoid the crowds.”

The entrance is accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring an elevator and three escalators, as well as a staircase.The project was the result of a public-private-partnership between the MTA and the developer BXP, which is building an office tower at the site — 343 Madison Ave.Torres-Springer said the $64 million project marks the third of five new entrances to Grand Central Madison being built using public-private partnerships. The remaining two unopened entrances lay north at 383 Madison Ave./, which had already been opened, but was temporarily closed amid building renovations, and on 48th Street.A view inside of the new Grand Central Madison entrance at 45th Street and Madison Avenue. Friday, May 22, 2026.Marc A. Hermann / MTAThe MTA also built two additional entrances to the station.The transit authority owns the land; its former headquarters previously stood there for decades. RXP agreed to build the entrance as part of its broader construction effort. The project resulted from the city’s2017 Midtown East rezoning.MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agreement will also allow the MTA to rake in a projected $1 billion over time from lease payments and property tax revenues for the site. Those dollars will go toward the agency’s capital program, he said.Lieber also noted “just how important” the East Side LIRR terminal is. He pointed to how riders were able to use it as an alternative to Penn Station late last week, when anelectrical fire snarled LIRR service at the West Side hub.“This is the backup that we always needed for Long Island Rail Road folks,” Lieber said, comparing Grand Central Madison to the Gateway project to improve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Service into Penn.“[It makes] sure that if one terminal, like we had last week, is out of service, there’s an alternative way to travel,” he said. “And if we hadn’t had this last week, thousands and thousands of people would have been shut down.”The transit boss said the facility will also serve as a crucial alternative to Penn Station during the FIFAWorld Cup Finalnext month. The competition is expected to see an influx of revelers taking NJ Transit via Penn Station to get to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the eight championship soccer matches will be played.“This additional capacity is also going to be a huge help during the World Cup,” he said. “While we do plan to keep Penn open for Long Island Rail Road customers throughout the tournament, even on match days, regular commuters are, if they go to Penn, going to be encouraged to switch to Grand Central Madison, just to avoid the crowds.”

The project was the result of a public-private-partnership between the MTA and the developer BXP, which is building an office tower at the site — 343 Madison Ave.Torres-Springer said the $64 million project marks the third of five new entrances to Grand Central Madison being built using public-private partnerships. The remaining two unopened entrances lay north at 383 Madison Ave./, which had already been opened, but was temporarily closed amid building renovations, and on 48th Street.A view inside of the new Grand Central Madison entrance at 45th Street and Madison Avenue. Friday, May 22, 2026.Marc A. Hermann / MTAThe MTA also built two additional entrances to the station.The transit authority owns the land; its former headquarters previously stood there for decades. RXP agreed to build the entrance as part of its broader construction effort. The project resulted from the city’s2017 Midtown East rezoning.MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agreement will also allow the MTA to rake in a projected $1 billion over time from lease payments and property tax revenues for the site. Those dollars will go toward the agency’s capital program, he said.Lieber also noted “just how important” the East Side LIRR terminal is. He pointed to how riders were able to use it as an alternative to Penn Station late last week, when anelectrical fire snarled LIRR service at the West Side hub.“This is the backup that we always needed for Long Island Rail Road folks,” Lieber said, comparing Grand Central Madison to the Gateway project to improve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Service into Penn.“[It makes] sure that if one terminal, like we had last week, is out of service, there’s an alternative way to travel,” he said. “And if we hadn’t had this last week, thousands and thousands of people would have been shut down.”The transit boss said the facility will also serve as a crucial alternative to Penn Station during the FIFAWorld Cup Finalnext month. The competition is expected to see an influx of revelers taking NJ Transit via Penn Station to get to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the eight championship soccer matches will be played.“This additional capacity is also going to be a huge help during the World Cup,” he said. “While we do plan to keep Penn open for Long Island Rail Road customers throughout the tournament, even on match days, regular commuters are, if they go to Penn, going to be encouraged to switch to Grand Central Madison, just to avoid the crowds.”

Torres-Springer said the $64 million project marks the third of five new entrances to Grand Central Madison being built using public-private partnerships. The remaining two unopened entrances lay north at 383 Madison Ave./, which had already been opened, but was temporarily closed amid building renovations, and on 48th Street.

The MTA also built two additional entrances to the station.

The transit authority owns the land; its former headquarters previously stood there for decades. RXP agreed to build the entrance as part of its broader construction effort. The project resulted from the city’s2017 Midtown East rezoning.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agreement will also allow the MTA to rake in a projected $1 billion over time from lease payments and property tax revenues for the site. Those dollars will go toward the agency’s capital program, he said.

Lieber also noted “just how important” the East Side LIRR terminal is. He pointed to how riders were able to use it as an alternative to Penn Station late last week, when anelectrical fire snarled LIRR service at the West Side hub.

Source: LI Press