	April 10, 2006

Penn Station - Grand Central Rail Connection

ARC Alternative G map

Connecting the New York City's metropolitan region's two key railway stations is an important step in establishing a regional rail system.

This plan evolved from a cooperative planning study for new Trans-Hudson rail capacity -- "Access to the Region's Core" -- a collaboration of NJT, MTA and the PANYNJ. With this connection, New Jersey rail passengers could more conveniently travel to and from Manhattan's East Side where 70% of them want to go. Likewise, Westchester, Mid-Hudson and Connecticut passengers could gain better access to the growing office concentrations in Manhattan's West Midtown and sites in New Jersey. However, NJT has endorsed a plan to build additional track capacity to a new deep level terminal below 34th Street adjacent to Penn Station -- but not to construct the fixed NYP-GCT rail link.

NJ-ARP believes the omission of the NYP-GCT rail link is shortsighted, given the energy and environmental constraints facing the nation, region and states in the 21st century.

Regional transport problems demand regional solutions. The key to this plan's success is close cooperation between the MTA and NJT.

These files were created by Bob Scheurle.