New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled the
The $1.4 billion project was conceived in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and funded with $847 million from a special congressional appropriation.
"The new Fulton Center complex is another example of how we are rebuilding lower Manhattan, which will spur a resurgence throughout the area," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at Sunday's ceremony. "This new station makes traveling easier for subway riders, and is a beautiful public space for visitors and commuters to enjoy."
Fulton Center is one of several major MTA capital projects. Others include East Side access for Long Island Rail Road trains and the Second Avenue subway line. The MTA is one of the largest municipal issuers with roughly $34 billion of debt as of Sept. 30.
Known as the Lower Manhattan Recovery Grants, the federal funds were intended for local transit agencies to repair, replace and enhance transportation infrastructure in Lower Manhattan. The MTA provided $130 million in local funds. The project also received $423 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the largest single award for the Federal Transit Administration's ARRA projects.
The Fulton Center integrates five subway stations serving nine lines. MTA officials say connecting subway lines that evolved from the competing IRT, BMT, and IND companies resolve a century-old conflict to better reflect traveling patterns and today's commuting needs. In-station transfers that were cumbersome and difficult to navigate between the numerous subway lines have been transformed into a concourse with better sightlines.
Construction includes restoration of the 125-year-old Corbin Building, which will provide additional public access. The Fulton Center will house nearly 66,000-square-feet of revenue generating retail and commercial space and the MTA's largest digital media program, both of which are being managed and operated by the international developer Westfield Corp.
Fulton's centerpiece includes a 53-foot-diameter glass oculus over a grand atrium.
