LIRR Riders Are One Stop Closer to Grand Central with Waiver from FRA

“We’re relieved and thankful that the Federal Railroad Administration has granted the Long Island Rail Road with a temporary waiver from regulations that will allow East Side Access to open on schedule. The regulations provide safety redundancies – like a belt with suspenders – and we’re comfortable that service can start with the systems that are in place now, in anticipation of the additional work. LIRR riders are ready to roll into Grand Central after decades of planning, building, and testing—including recent wayfinding exercises that PCAC participated in to ensure that travelers can easily and accessibly find where they need to go— and receiving this waiver from the FRA was one of the final hurdles the LIRR needed to overcome before setting its opening date and opening doors to riders. With this waiver in place, we’re hopeful that LIRR riders can arrive at Grand Central on time, before the end of the year,” said Gerard Bringmann, chair of the LIRR Commuter Council and MTA Board Member.