Before the September 11 attacks , Lower Manhattan was the third largest central business district in the United States . It is now the fourth largest , behind Midtown Manhattan , Chicago , and Washington , D.C . Many commuters take the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal and transfer to a Manhattan-bound subway or take the LIRR to Penn Station and transfer to a subway heading downtown to reach their jobs in Lower Manhattan , both of which options consume a considerable amount of time
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Lower Manhattan–Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project