Commuters will get their first glimpse of the unique World Trade middle Transportation Hub.
The hub's central hall -- referred to as the Oculus -- will partially open Thursday afternoon,providing service to PATH riders. The Port Authority of unique York and unique Jersey says riders will be able to access a unique entrance at Liberty and Church streets. The existing entrances on Vesey street will remain open. This spring, the Port Authority says the remaining parts of the hub will open with a connection to the Fulton Street Transit middle which serves the 2, or 3,4, 5, or A,C, J, or Z and R subway lines.
The hub,designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, has had its share of delays and cost overruns. The price of construction ballooned to $4 billion from the original estimate of $2.2 billion. Outgoing Executive Director Pat Foye has referred to the project as "a symbol of excess."The unique York Times didn't pull any punches in its review of the facility, and calling it "an epic boondoggle" and "a glorified PATH station" with no free transfers to faraway subway lines.
Port Authority officials opted not to hold an official ceremony for Thursday's debut. But Port Authority officials say they are planing a ceremony once the Oculus becomes full operational this spring.
Source: wnyc.org