Comments on: Penn Commuters May Reclaim Pedestrian Tunnel From Rats

By: Midtown Pedestrian Tunnel Inches Closer to Reality | Mobilizing the Region

Midtown Pedestrian Tunnel Inches Closer to Reality | Mobilizing the Region — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:13:33 +0000

[...] Campaign is particularly excited about the prospect of reopening the Gimbels Passageway which connects the commuter rail lines and subways at Penn Station with subway and PATH service at [...]

By: Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:08:06 +0000

Look on top of Penn station all the buildings around have bad problems with rats including a coop of 29th street.

By: R Troy

R Troy — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:58:46 +0000

I’ve been waiting for a long time to hear about this; it is so hard to get out of Penn to get to the 6th Ave line and the PATH, especially in bad weather. So if developers can find a way to do this so it benefits commuters and makes them some money, that would be great!

By: Joe Russo

Joe Russo — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:14:28 +0000

This tunnel was the subject of a PANYNJ and Tri-State Planning Commission study to look at the possibility of installing an accelerated moving sidewalk between Penn Sta and Herald Sq. This was back in 1977/78. This technology ought to be considered now, although the developer’s interest in created more foot traffic may conflict with the foot traffic passing by at 3 to 5 mph and not stopping at the retail operations. These types of sidewalks are often used in Paris connecting long passageways between Metro and Regional stations.

Under the stimulus package there should be some funds for a project like this. I am sure the system could be designed to allow easy on and off exiting to allow for patronage of the retail services.

Another place where a moving sidewalk ought to be considered is in the now cleaned up passageway between 42nd St. and Times Sq. subway stations.

By: Brian W

Brian W — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:44:24 +0000

Hi. I originally broke this story on my blog, the RailfanWindow.com blog, and sent the tip to Gothamist. Their post is based on mine, which you can read here: Gimbels Passageway restoration is in the 15 Penn Plaza project plans

By: Thomas Marchwinski

Thomas Marchwinski — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:46:45 +0000

I actually remember walking through this connection, back in the 1970′s and the mid to late 1980′s. It really was a good connection between Penn Station and the subway connections. It also, at least as I remember, was NOT behind MTA turnstiles. At the time, I remember connecting to PATH for some reason, and when Penn Station trains go down, this connection is very valuable. It did get a little spookey late in the evening, with not many people around, and gradually homeless population also increased. I think with stores and a more viable, lighted connection it would work, maybe its only closed late at night.

The same thing happened in 30th Street Philadelphia, where there was a direct underground connection from 30th street to the Market-Frankford subway line, which was great because you did not have to go outside. Same here, for key subway connections. That connection remains closed, and you know go out on street to the subway stairway. We seem to have to reclaim our past for the future, it just shows how much was done years ago. Hope it opens.

By: Gotham Gazette - The Wonkster » Blog Archive » Weekly Web Wrap

Gotham Gazette - The Wonkster » Blog Archive » Weekly Web Wrap — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:40:27 +0000

[...] Private Developer Offers to Reopen Midtown Subway Passageway (Tri-State Transportation Campaign) [...]

By: Only Titles Thursday « the media nerd

Only Titles Thursday « the media nerd — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:19:50 +0000

[...] Penn Commuters May Reclaim Pedestrian Tunnel From Rats [...]