passenger stepping on a rubber platform instead of running continuously. As part of the plan, two escalators at the Third Avenue entrance to the Flushing Line platform would be reconditioned. On August 9, 1979, it was announced that New York City would receive $32 million from the Urban Mass Transit Administration's Urban Initiatives Projects grant program to renovation the Grand Central, Herald Square, and 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal subway stations. The remainder of the $40 million cost of renovating these stations would be covered by state and private sector matching funds. This program was set up by the Carter administration to use public funding to spur private-sector investments to rebuild cities. The Grand Central project, was expected to cost $12.5 million, of which the Federal government would provide $10 million, the state would provide $1 million, and private developers would pay $1.5 million through a tax abatement plan. It qualified for the program due to a significant investment in the area by private developers, including the rebuilding of the Commodore Hotel as the Grand Hyatt, the renovation of the Chrysler Building, and the construction of a new headquarters for Philip Morris. Work on the renovation project was estimated to take three years, and would include the installation of escalators and elevators. Passageways would be straightened, widened, and relocated, fare controls be relocated, mezzanine areas would be expanded, signage, lighting and entrances would be improved, and the station's public address system would be upgraded. On October 26, 1981, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) held a public hearing over the agency's planned use of eminent domain to acquire of the basement of the Grand Hyatt to construct a passageway to connect the station's northern and main mezzanines as part of the station renovation. In addition, as part of the project, a steep stairway to the Commodore passageway was to be reconstructed, and some stairways were to be relocated to reduce congestion. The construction of the passageway was intended to allow all stairways from the Lexington Avenue platforms to be used to access the 42nd Street Shuttle and Flushing Line platforms, and to improve passenger circulation. Elevators were installed to connect the main mezzanine and the two Lexington Avenue Line platforms, as was required to receive Federal funding. In 1985, work began on a $23 million renovation of the Lexington Avenue Line station. As part of the project, new ceilings, floors, lighting,