New York City’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub, also known as the Oculus, partially opened to the public last week. The opening provides the 100,000 riders that use the underground PATH rail system with access to a new entrance at the corner of Liberty and Church streets, a few blocks from Wall Street. The Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners is planning an opening ceremony for this spring as the Hub becomes fully operational, including the eastern linkages to the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Fulton Street Transit Center and the 11 city subway lines that the MTA facility serves.
"Lower Manhattan soon will have an architecturally visionary 21st century rail station, combined with world-class retail shops, that will be a focal point for downtown commerce," said Port Authority Vice Chairman Scott Rechler.
More than 10,000 tons of structural steel was used to create the distinctive winged shape for Oculus — designed by internationally acclaimed architect and engineer, Santiago Calatrava. The structure’s street-level entrance features a curved rib roof and soaring arches, leading commuters to the PATH system, subway lines, 225,000 sq. ft of retail and restaurant space, four office towers at the WTC site, the World Financial Center and the Winter Garden — all of which comprises one of the most extensive underground pedestrian connections in NYC.
For more on Oculus, go to www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/transportation-hub.html.