IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO TRAIN PLATFORMS AT GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

A technical study of the feasibility of providing northern access for train passengers to the upper and lower level platform at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan is reported. At present, access is available at the southern ends of the platforms only. The purposes of the study were to identify (a) the functions of Grand Central Terminal, (b) the best location for northern access pedestrian facilities, (c) the passageway widths required to handle peak volumes, and (d) the impacts of the recommended design on the movement of people and trains. Four types of surveys, an on-board rail passenger survey; a pedestrian interview survey; pedestrian volume counts; and special studies on pedestrian walking speeds; platform and train discharge times, and the number of encumbered persons, were conducted. Grand Central Terminal functions as an intermodal transfer facility, a link in the midtown pedestrian network, a commercial center, and an extension of the subway stations. The recommended improvement concept includes two east-west and two north-south passageways to serve both the upper and lower level platforms. The impacts of 25 and 50 percent increases in passengers on the widths required for the proposed passageways were estimated, based on evaluation criteria related to congestion, walking distances, travel times, railroad operations, handicapped persons, orientation, and capital and operating costs.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Intermodal Transfer Facilities.
• Authors:
  • Hocking, Richard J
  • Kuner, Rick
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 6-13
• Monograph Title: Transit facility operations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 614
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access; Commuter service; Data collection; Feasibility analysis; Interviewing; Passengers; Pedestrians; Railroad stations; Surveys
• Identifier Terms: Grand Central Terminal (New York, New York)
• Old TRIS Terms: Platforms
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00159597
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025907
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 28 1981 12:00AM