Updated Grand Central Shuttle unveiled
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
A brand new rebuilt shuttle taking
commuters from Grand Central to
Times Square has offi cially opened
to the public.
The shuttle comes as a part of the 42nd
Street Connection Project, which aims to
transform the commuting experience for
thousands of New Yorkers who take the
42nd Street Shuttle. Janno Lieber, Acting
MTA Chairman and CEO, stated that the
shuttle was completely rebuilt during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today we add the rebuilding of the
Times Square to Grand Central tunnel to
our list of accomplishments,” said Lieber
on Sept. 10. “The shuttle was part of the
very fi rst subway line that opened in 1904.
It is among the very oldest parts of our system.
It connects the two busiest stations
in the MTA system and carried 100,000
riders a day before COVID.”
The platforms on the shuttle previously
had design fl aws such as sharply curved
platforms, leading to big gaps between
the train and the platform and making it
diffi cult to use for wheelchair-using passengers.
The redesign straightened out the
Janno Lieber announces the rebuilt shuttle between Grand Central and Times
Square in Midtown.
platforms, allowing for more train cars and
fewer gaps, and making the line fully ADA
compliant.
“This is truly a great day for New York
City Transit and for New York City,” said
Craig Cipriano, NYC Transit Interim President.
“I’ve been with this agency for over
30 years since I started with subways, and
rebuilding the shuttle has been a topic of
SCREENSHOT VIA MTA
discussion for that entire time. It’s amazing
to fi nally see the renovation New Yorkers
deserve, especially at this critical moment
when we are welcoming them back.”
“Completing the shuttle project is a huge
enhancement for all riders and a critical
step forward towards system-wide accessibility,”
said Quemuel Arroyo, MTA Chief
Accessibility Offi cer. “The improvements
we are celebrating today are transformative,
and there is still more to come.”
Among the projects that have been completed
during the pandemic, Lieber said,
include the revamped L and F train tunnels,
elevator accessibility at 11 subway stations,
OMNY going live across the MTA system
and getting the Moynihan Train Hall into
service. The MTA is also currently working
on making commutes more effi cient
and quicker for straphangers by updating
signals and bringing real-time information
to riders.
“The bottom line is that New Yorkers are
going to be coming back to a system that
is much improved over the system that existed
when COVID hit in early 2020,” said
Lieber. “We’ve been taking advantage of
the low ridership to improve the customer
experience.”
During the opening, the MTA also
unveiled its Welcome Back New York
Campaign. The new campaign, as the name
suggests, aims to welcome back riders to
the MTA system.
“The campaign reminds our customers
that we never stopped running thanks to
our heroic workforce,” said Sarah Meyer,
MTA Chief Customer Offi cer.
Tickets on sale for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ahead of October opening
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Tickets are now available for the
city’s latest immersive experience
that is complete with world-class
food, design and a killer view of the fi ve
boroughs.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is a 65,000
square foot, three-level entertainment
space that was designed by Snøhetta.
The immersive experience took years to
conceive and develop by leading experts in
the fi eld. SL Green Realty Corp. launches
ticket sales on Sept. 14 for the space, which
is slated to open on Oct. 21.
“The excitement surrounding SUMMIT
One Vanderbilt has been overwhelming.
Now that we are fi nally able to offer a
glimpse into the awe-inspiring, multi-level
and multi-room immersive art experience
that is Air, people will begin to understand
how different this destination is from any
other in the world,” said Marc Holliday,
Chairman and CEO of SL Green. “We
can’t wait to welcome New Yorkers and
visitors to New York to experience this
truly unique destination right in the heart
of Manhattan connected to Grand Central
Terminal. People are going to want to come
back to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt again
and again.”
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt boasts a
unique design that has incredible views
of the entire city. The space also has
levitation sky boxes that allow guests to
step out from the envelope of the building
and stand on transparent glass 1,063 feet
above Madison Avenue, and Ascent, an
all-glass elevator a transparent glass fl oor,
will take guests from the terrace level up
the side of the building to over 1,200 feet
(364 meters), nesting at the highest viewing
point in midtown Manhattan. Guests
COURTESY ONE VANDERBILT
can also experience the Après sky lounge,
the Summit Terrace, an open-air viewing
spot that wraps around the south and west
sides of One Vanderbilt, and Air,which is
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt’s walk-through
art experience.
“In addition to its remarkable materiality,
Air is a living, breathing entity, expressed
through its multisensory use of sound,
lighting and production design. It’s a story
that evolves with each successive space,
bringing visitors deeper and deeper into
the experience until fi nally, they become
part of it. Though Air is deeply personal,
the experience reveals a shared consciousness,
inviting visitors of any age to revel
in collective wonder,” says Kenzo Digital,
Artist and CEO, Kenzo Digital Immersive.
“Through its boundless juxtapositions of
form, Air compels you to live in the present
moment: calm, aware and free.”
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt will have food
experiences on-site provided by Danny
Meyer’s Union Square Events. The space
will have indoor and outdoor bars, an
all-day lounge and cafe, and locations to
grab elevated snacks. A full menu will be
released closer to opening day.
“Our team is proud to add additional
fl avor to this thrilling new destination
that will place a resounding exclamation
point on New York City’s renaissance,”
said Meyer.
Tickets will start at $39 for adults, with
special online discounts for New York City
residents. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt will
initially be open from Thursdays—Sundays.
For more information and to purchase
tickets to experience SUMMIT One
Vanderbilt beginning October 21, visit
www.summitov.com. Follow SUMMIT
One Vanderbilt on Instagram and Facebook
at @summitov.
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