Calling the nation’s busiest train station “dark” and “ugly”, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced a restart of the long sought-after overhaul of Penn Station, a project that could cost up to $3 billion and include improvements like bringing natural light into the congested maze underneath Madison Square Garden.
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The most-pressing question, according to transportation planners, is what, if anything, his proposal portends for Penn South, Amtrak’s planned extension of Penn Station to accommodate increased traffic from a new cross-Hudson rail tunnel.
For the public-private partnership, solicitations to developers will be issued by the state (which owns the Farley Post Office) and Amtrak (which owns Penn Station) this week.
Andrew Cuomo’s Tour of Major Infrastructure Project Renderings leading up to next week’s State of the State power point address yesterday laid out his admin’s plan for redeveloping Penn Station. Cuomo’s administration says that agreement has been severed but the developers can re-bid.
“Penn Station is un-New York, ” said Cuomo, a Democrat.
Read the full story in Politico New York.
There’s still a ways to go before we know exactly what to expect. This proposal will fundamentally transform Penn Station for the 21st century, and we are excited to move forward with the project in the days to come..
The options include a “friendly negotiated condemnation” of the Theater at Madison Square Garden, closing 33rd Street to build a skylight, creating a grand entrance on Seventh Avenue or adding new mid-block or corner entrances. Penn Station commuters have heard that before, but the dream of escaping New York’s scary basement lives on.
The new facility will offer more concourse and circulation space, and offer retail and modern amenities. $325 million of this will come from government sources, including DOT, Port Authority and Amtrak. Responses are due in 90 days.
“I believe it’s going to be transformative for the state”, Cuomo said.
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“Frankly, it’s a miserable experience”, said Cuomo, who was joined by Joseph Boardman, chairman of Amtrak, which owns Penn Station, and James Dolan, executive chairman of the Madison Square Garden Co.
