A brand new Lengthy Island Rail Highway station can open at Grand Central Terminal subsequent month after the feds granted a waiver to a security regulation requiring a selected know-how that stops practice crashes, however which LIRR leaders say is redundant, The Publish has realized.
The feds are permitting the “East Facet Entry” tunnel — which takes trains from Lengthy Island to Midtown — to open with out the set up of “hazard detector” tech that robotically stops Amtrak trains earlier than they'll inadvertently get on the tracks on the new $11 billion “Grand Central Madison” terminal.
Native officers say the tech will not be wanted as a result of the brand new tunnel and station have already got a number of safeguards in place to forestall oversize Amtrak trains from by chance heading the fallacious manner. The tech will finally be added after the station’s opening.
“If an Amtrak practice working with outsized rolling inventory is routed in the direction of the [Grand Central Madison] tunnel, a collection of redundant protections exist to forestall that practice from getting into the tunnel,” FRA security regulators wrote. “Granting LIRR’s request is within the public curiosity and in keeping with railroad security.”
The LIRR has till Feb. 15 to combine hazard detection into its on-board practice computer systems, the FRA stated.
“We obtained the FRA waiver as anticipated because the LIRR practice management system already has options that forestall outsized trains from getting into the east aspect tunnels,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan stated in a press release.
New York started development on East Facet Entry in 2007. The mission was initially projected to value $2.2 billion — one-fifth of its ultimate price ticket.
The brand new Grand Central Madison terminal — which runs alongside Madison Avenue — is 150 toes beneath floor. It can improve the LIRR’s capability by 45 %, in response to state leaders.
LIRR Commuter Council chair Gerard Bringmann stated he's assured the MTA can meet the FRA’s February deadline.
“The laws present security redundancies — like a belt with suspenders — and we’re snug that service can begin with the techniques which are in place now, in anticipation of the extra work,” Bringmann stated. “With this waiver in place, we’re hopeful that LIRR riders can arrive at Grand Central on time, earlier than the top of the yr.”
Post a Comment