Commuter Express Lanes

Notes on my observations of Grand Central Terminal

Main Concourse:

People are going from Point A -> B
Few folks stop and ask for directions at the center question booth
Buy tickers on the side walls
Transition area; have options to go to tracks, shopping, eating, or leave
All shops and food are on the way to/from the platforms, spread out, or downstairs
Architecture, ceiling capture attention
People with too much time people-watch from the French-inspired stairs
Most ignore architecture/surroundings if on tight schedule
Wings contain shopping
Food court at bottom
Looks like they don’t want you to sit in the main concourse.
Arrive through 6 door entrences and tracks (via ramps)
You have to pass through the main concourse (possible bottleneck)
People don’t look like they are enjoying themselves
Folks have places to go; dictated by time
Unless they are in a group or with significant other, they look “busy”
Main concourse is a natural stopping point, contains info booth, trains schedule, clock
Grand staircases, people love to stop and stare down
Beaux-arts architecture
Dinning downstairs
Middle help desk = tourism help magnet
Train departure affects decision-making behavior