As we arrive on the two-year anniversary of the opening of Moynihan Practice Corridor right now, we should always mirror on its progress as an enchancment on Penn Station.
Penn Station, hub for the Lengthy Island Rail Street, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, has been the topic of criticism for years. It was known as a “drag on the economic system” for the frequent delays, cancellations, and observe closures. To some extent, this was to be anticipated: three rail traces share the identical tracks. Earlier than COVID, Amtrak carried greater than one million enterprise vacationers and vacationers in 2019. NJT carried near 90,000 riders every day between Penn Station and New Jersey. The LIRR carried extra 300,000 passengers every workday on 735 trains. In keeping with one report, delays, and cancellations on the LIRR alone price the area $60 million in misplaced productiveness every day.
Due to this fact, there was rejoicing in 2016 when it was introduced that Penn Station and the Farley Publish Workplace Constructing could be renovated, with the Farley Constructing turning into Moynihan Practice Corridor. The $1.6 billion renovation challenge was to be a mannequin for contemporary rail transportation. The Moynihan Corridor is certainly a gorgeous restoration.
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However the consideration to element and luxury contained in the Corridor is absent on the surface. The place one would count on an organized association for vacationers to search out taxi cabs and meet Uber/Lyft sort providers, there may be chaos. Take into account this latest expertise.
I exited the renovated Farley Publish Workplace, now Moynihan Practice Corridor throughout Eighth Ave. from Penn Station, hoping to discover a taxi. After such intensive renovations, I figured there ought to be no drawback. Nevertheless, not like the outdated days just some years in the past, there was no place for taxis to line up. With vehicles parked alongside the curb, folks going each which manner, and site visitors heavy, it was harmful to enterprise into the road on the lookout for a cab.
So, I logged onto Uber. It mentioned my location was 271 W. 33th St., however no retailer close by had a road tackle seen. I despatched the Uber driver a textual content saying that I used to be subsequent to a Duane Reade, however the message was rejected. I known as the quantity proven within the textual content: it was not a working quantity. Wanting round, I noticed a lady checking her telephone and heard her say, “271 W. 33th.” I requested if she was requesting an Uber. She was. I requested how she would know the automobile and he or she shrugged.
Simply then one other lady mentioned “Uber” and went into the road. It was not hers, so I requested if the driving force was on the lookout for “Robert.” He wasn’t. I checked my telephone once more and discovered that the Uber driver had canceled my journey. I appeared on the street and noticed a taxi with a roof mild on and braved the site visitors to hail it.
Contained in the taxi, I thanked the driving force and questioned what my night would have been like if it have been raining or snowing. What if I had baggage or used a cane?
Why can’t our metropolis present an organized location to discover a taxi for these leaving Penn Station or Moynihan Practice Corridor? Should chaos prevail? Certainly, somebody designing the renovations would have thought of folks arriving and leaving the station, and never simply the place they might sit and sip espresso inside. Allow us to hope that organized taxi transportation will probably be a characteristic of Grand Central Terminal when it turns into the brand new house for the LIRR and {that a} taxi pleasant system is put in for these arriving at or leaving the Penn Station-Moynihan complicated.
Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi College and writer of “How College Boards Work.”
