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NY Post
New York Post
10 Mar 2023


NextImg:MTA promises Jamaica can fit Grand Central schedule after rush-hour meltdowns

MTA officials promised Thursday that the Long Island Rail Road’s Jamaica hub can handle the complex new schedule needed to serve Grand Central after a slew of rush-hour meltdowns added to the furor from commuters over the timetable changes.

The promises came after The Post revealed the existence of a 2012 capacity study ordered by the LIRR that found a similar schedule would result in frequent mass delays because it would overtax the station without major capacity improvements, which won’t be completed until 2027.

“Jamaica’s not going to be falling over because it’s not falling over right now,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said during a press conference at LIRR’s new $11.2 billion underground terminal at Grand Central, known as Grand Central Madison.

“We’re having a period of adjustment and, as we’ve said, we’re making adjustments to facilitate it,” he added. “And you’ve seen improvement in the service every day.”

LIRR interim chief Cathy Rinaldi and Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber address reporters at Grand Central Madison after nearly two weeks of furor over schedule changes.
Gregory P. Mango

A man is seen running to trains in the Jamaica LIRR train station on Monday.

The MTA promised that the LIRR could accommodate Grand Central’s rush hour schedule.
Robert Mecea

Lieber and the MTA commuter railroad boss Cathy Rinaldi — she serves as head of Metro-North in addition to her role as the interim chief of the LIRR — also announced a slew of schedule changes that aimed to reduce the crowding at Jamaica and the crush loads onboard trains running to Penn Station.

The tweaks involve moving several trains currently serving Grand Central back to serving the West Side and adding new stops for some trains running between Brentwood and Manhattan so riders can make transfers before getting to Queens.

These new adjustments come on top of tweaks made to the schedules this week that lengthened roughly 30 trains running into Penn Station and upped the frequency of the controversial new shuttle service running between Jamaica and Brooklyn from every 12 minutes at peak to every seven to eight minutes.

“The first week of the new timetables was tough as customers adjusted and, frankly, as the MTA adjusted to address the issues that emerged,” Lieber said. “But we’re pleased with the progress we’ve made this week and we’re going to continue to make adjustments as we go.”

People waiting, boarding and exiting LIRR trains at the Jamaica train station.

In recent weeks, the MTA has been criticized for long waits for its trains.
Gregory P. Mango

The changes to the schedule include: