Gov Hochul Calls for Reconstruction of NYC’s Penn Station; Requests Proposals from Engineering Firms
Edited by: Fern Sidman
New York Governor Kathy Hochul with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in partnership with Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, is requesting proposals from architecture and engineering firms to guide the Penn Station Reconstruction effort recently outlined in the Penn Station Master Plan study that was announced in the fall.
Governor Hochul’s plan calls for the transformation of Penn Station into a modern, spacious, light-filled facility that is easy to navigate, while also revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood to prioritize the public realm and social services, invest in affordable housing, increase transit access and shared streets, and create a pedestrian-friendly streetscape. Penn Reconstruction will modernize the concourse experience for passengers with improved platform connectivity, streamlined wayfinding and enhanced amenities. The future expansion of Penn Station will add track and platform capacity and be fully integrated with a reconstructed Penn Station.
The commuters who use Penn Station have been asking for improvements for decades.
The dark labyrinth inside Penn Station is famous for commuter complaints with some calling it “chaotic and dirty”. Meanwhile, the sunlight inside the new Moynihan Train Hall across the street is a glimpse of the future.
That same glass-ceilinged look a key part of the new Penn Station plan, with Hochul describing the plan with a unique word choice.
“A skylight that reminds you ‘yes, the heavens are out there still — despite the feeling you may be living in hell,” she said, according to a report on NBC New York.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the transformation will be a positive change for the Big Apple. NBC New York reported that he said, “We are going to turn an embarrassment into a symbol of what’s great about our city.”
Critics of the plan which include the local community board have voiced their opposition because it grants permission for real estate giant Vornado to build up to 10 new skyscrapers around Penn Station without paying property taxes, as was reported by NBC New York.
When News 4 New York asked Hochul if she could demand that Vornado and other private entities pay property taxes, the governor said the state has listened to concerns and have made changes.
“They’ve already had to deal with major adjustments that I put in place after hearing the public about their dissatisfaction. We brought down the height. We cut off 1.4 million square feet. We require more public space,” Hochul said.
News 4 New York reported that there is also political pressure from New Jersey as the long awaited Gateway Tunnel across the Hudson creeps forward.
“Having a brand-new Penn Station doesn’t mean much if we can’t ensure that the trains heading here can get here on time,” NJ Governor Phil Murphy said.
Hochul says she wants designs from architects or builders to be submitted by the end of next month, according to News 4 New York. However, there is still the issue of final state approval — which is expected to come to a vote some time this summer.
“The transformation of Penn Station into a world-class, commuter-focused transportation facility befitting the central hub of the greatest city in the world cannot come soon enough,” Governor Hochul said. “We have shared a vision of a single-level unified station with soaring ceilings that welcome natural light, clear, intuitive sightlines, more circulation space and more connectivity to streets and platforms. With this announcement, the MTA is taking a concrete step toward making that vision a reality. Thanks to the efforts of the Biden Administration, Senator Schumer’s leadership and the support of Senator Gillibrand and our congressional delegation, new federal resources are available to assist in creating a new Penn Station for the entire region.”
“Penn Station is a major transportation hub that hosts millions of train and subway commuters along its corridors every year,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. “Launching this infrastructure project to modernize Penn Station will result in a first-class transit hub that New Yorkers can be proud of and will improve passenger amenities and circulation within the station, create construction jobs and transform the area for businesses and residents.”
“As the centerpiece of one of the most important transportation networks in the world, Penn Station requires an atmosphere and appearance that reflect its tremendous importance to the region,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “For several decades Penn Station has not provided New Jersey commuters and visitors with the comfort and convenience they deserve. Now, as a result of partnerships across agencies and state lines, we are prepared to take the next step toward the long-awaited transformation of this pivotal transportation hub.”
In accordance with the master plan developed by MTA and its partner railroads, the rebuilt station will:
- Integrate train boarding and all public functions and amenities on a single level with broad concourses and high ceilings
- Create a main concourse on the east side of the station that will be considerably larger than the areas of Moynihan Train Hall and the Great Hall at Grand Central Terminal combined
- Double the ceiling height of the public concourses
- Establish clear sightlines to platform entrances to provide intuitive travel paths through the station
- Increase the number of stairs, escalators and elevators to the station’s 11 platforms by 33 percent
- Improve/enlarge pedestrian entrances
The current Penn Station – the Western Hemisphere’s busiest transit hub – serves more passengers than LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Airports combined. Amtrak’s operation in the new Moynihan Train Hall provides an opportunity to overhaul Penn Station, eliminating the bulk of the first subterranean level to open up the main concourse to natural light, improving retail and other user amenities, increasing safety and security, significantly expanding passenger circulation areas, expanding entrances and exits, and making it easier for passengers to navigate within the station and to connect to their destinations beyond. The reconstruction of the station is expected to cost between six and seven billion dollars and is estimated to be completed five to six years after the start of construction.
