The tour of the LIRR extension was neat, although I had the wrong idea of the project. It will extend the LIRR from Queens to Grand Central via a currently unused tunnel under the East River that was built decades ago when a subway tunnel was built. When completed, it will take passengers 9 min. to get from the platforms to street level. One of the escalator rides alone will take 2 min. At this phase, there are about 1,200 workers on site deep below GCT. About 30 seemed to be actually doing work.

MTA | Capital Programs East Side Access

Completion now scheduled for 2022. New estimated cost of over $11 billion.