Enhancing the Commute Experience at Grand Central Madison
Commuters traveling from Long Island to Manhattan now have a more comfortable option as they make their way through Grand Central Madison. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently introduced 70 new seats in the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) mezzanine, effectively doubling the number of seating options available at the station.
These new two-seat benches, located near 45th and 46th streets, are accessible to ticketed LIRR customers within a 90-minute window. According to MTA representatives, this addition brings the total number of available seats in the station to 106. Riders have already begun to take notice of the change, with many expressing relief over the new amenities.
Randi Jaffe, a 53-year-old chiropractor from Long Island, described the new benches as “fantastic,” though she noted that the seats’ unusual curvature made them less than ideal. “They’re not optimal, but they’re pretty comfortable,” she said. “It beats standing.” Jaffe also suggested that adding a backrest would improve the comfort level, but acknowledged that most people likely wouldn’t sit for long periods.
The station, which opened in 2023 without any seating, started with 28 seats near 47th Street in October 2024. Additional seats were added at 45th and 46th streets this month, bringing the total to 106. This expansion follows a significant increase in LIRR ridership, with a record 1.72 million riders during the week of July 23 and an 89% return to pre-pandemic levels.
LIRR President Rob Free emphasized the importance of improving the customer experience during a press conference at the station. “Improving the customer experience is one of our top priorities,” he said. The new seating has already been well-received, with some commuters calling for even more additions.
Liam Hosey, a 20-year-old student from Rockville Centre, expressed his appreciation for the new benches. “I think they’re a good addition – I think there could be more of them. Otherwise there’s no complaints,” he said. However, he was sitting on the floor due to a lack of open seats.
Megan Riley, a 34-year-old commuter, shared similar sentiments. “I was kind of dreading coming down here, not having anything to sit on,” she said. “I think they’re great.”
Jean Ryan, a 56-year-old CUNY worker, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for more seats for those with mobility issues or chronic pain. “There should definitely be more,” she said.
Some commuters, like Ashley, a 30-year-old healthcare worker, raised concerns about the potential for homeless individuals to occupy the seats. However, she noted that the armrests between the benches might help prevent such situations.
Chris Conway, a straphanger from Vermont, refused to sit on a brand-new bench that had already been soiled by food scraps. Despite these issues, the MTA claims that customer satisfaction with the station’s cleanliness has improved, rising from 95% in the Fall 2024 survey to 96%.
Shanifah Rieara, MTA Senior Advisor for Communications and Policy, highlighted the efforts to ensure the station remains clean, well-lit, and easy to navigate. “Making sure the station is clean and well lit, clear signage as well as improved wayfinding and announcements that can certainly move the needle,” she said.
In addition to the new seating, the MTA is working to enhance the terminal with more retail options. A TRAX restaurant is set to open at the end of the month, and the MTA is in negotiations for additional leases. “We want Grand Central Madison to be a bustling terminal,” Rieara said. “Just like our neighbors upstairs at Grand Central Terminal.”
