$11 billion and a typo: New LIRR Terminal etches error in stone

The sparkling new Long Island Rail Road terminal in Manhattan’s Grand Central station has at least one flaw.

The concourse walls are emblazoned with tributes to New York City from luminaries including Toni Morrison and Lin-Manuel Miranda. One such testimonial carved into the wall is a quotation from Georgia O’Keeffe: “One can’t paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt.”

But, as it is, the painter’s surname is misspelled “O’Keefe.”

“We clearly f-ed this one up and it’s being fixed,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority Communications Director Tim Minton said in a statement.

It’s a blemish on an $11.1 billion project that has suffered years of delays and billions in cost overruns. 

The new Grand Central Madison terminal only opened for its inaugural ride Jan. 25 to offer an expected 160,000 commuters from Long Island direct access to the East side of Manhattan.