Thursday, October 1, 2026
One of the largest construction undertakings in the U.S. is the 11.1 billion East Side Access project, which seeks to bring Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal for the first time by Dec. 31, 2022.
Some residents anticipate the new terminal and see it as a future shortcut in their daily commute, while others are more incredulous of its completion and some are mum on the issue.
Merrick couple Frank Lee and Gail Hiller-Lee share a personal history with the LIRR — the two met while standing next to each other on a busy train.
“I stood every day when I was younger,” Gail said. “It’s not really like that anymore.”
Gail shared reservations about the MTA in general, adding that she believes they have bad planning at times, and should focus on other things that are already a problem.
“I don’t exactly trust them to make the right decisions,” Gail said. “There is tunnel work that needs to be done after flooding and Penn station could be more decent. I want them to fix what’s broken.”
Frank, a five-day-a-week commuter, is looking forward to the completion of the project. He says he would make use of it, but by its 2022 end date, he might be retired.
Tony Marciano, 66, of Bellmore, exited the LIRR from a busy day at the midtown offices where he works. While the project wouldn’t directly impact him, he said that it could only help commuters.
“Each commuter has a different experience depending on where you’re going,” he said. “As a whole, I think the project makes a lot of sense and could work.”
Katie Manley and Aleena Manji are young residents preparing for the fast-approaching start of college this fall, when they will be attending the Fashion Institute of Technology.
“I haven’t heard of it,” Manley said of the massive $11 billion project. “I don’t think it would affect us.”
FIT is situated near Pennsylvania Station, so the two friends would remain on that line. They waited at the Merrick station on Monday morning for their first trip to the university as students. They have yet to experience the congestion that comes with morning commuting on the LIRR, but they hope they can see the effect that it causes when it opens.
For East Meadow resident Cindy Meyers, taking the LIRR is rare.
“This is the first I’ll have taken in months,” she said as she sat at the Merrick platform. “It won’t affect me too much.”
Many riders who do frequent the LIRR, though, look forward to any signs of lower crowding on the trains.
“The train gets very congested,” said Karen and Anthony Jatning, a Merrick couple. “If it’ll help, it’ll be good.”
Tina Stollak, of Merrick, also looks forward to the completion of the project.
“I was a morning commuter for 45 years,” Stollak said. “It’ll help with the morning commute, I think. Anything that helps commuters is good.”
Bellmore resident Jesse Schwartz thinks the new lines will be beneficial, but wishes the changes came earlier.
“It would’ve been great two years ago when I worked next to Grand Central,” she said, with a laugh.
Howard Gretzler also shares ambivalence on the issue.
“It is what it is,” Gretzler said. “I used to commute into the city five days a week, but not anymore.”
Ronald and Cappie Morgan walked along the Merrick platform with luggage in hand. They are Washington, D.C. residents that headed home after visiting their daughter in Merrick. Their son-in-law commutes via the LIRR on weekdays.
“I brought it up with my son-in-law,” Ronald said, “and he said ‘forget about it.’”
They explained that he has doubts about the line and would not personally make use of it, but the couple thinks that any extra access to the city can only help.
“Whatever is helpful to people who are reliant on daily transportation is critical,” Cappie said.
“I think it’s good,” said Merrick resident Curt Arnel. “Anyone going to the theater district won’t have to go to Penn and then take a subway. And people who stay in the city late won’t have to travel far if they’re on the east side. It’s a good idea.”
