FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A new subway entrance is now open in the World Trade Center Oculus.
A pathway connecting the E train to the $4 billion transportation hub opened for commuters Monday morning, allowing thousands of straphangers to avoid the cold a bit longer.
The E entrance into the Oculus, which launched in March, retains some of the historical features that existed in the corridor before 9/11, including the original travertine flooring, a ramp structure, doors and directional signage, the MTA said in a statement.
Before the pathway was opened, commuters had to use the above-ground entrance to the E train. The new subway entryway, on the northeast corner of the Oculus's second level, joins 10 other direct connections to subway lines — 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z, R and W — as well as the PATH, via the hub.
The new E entrance is not yet ADA accessible, the MTA said, but an elevator will be added next year, according to the New York Times.
An additional link to the R line and one to the 1 subway line will also be available "in the coming months," the MTA said in a statement.