Long-sought overhaul at US’ busiest train station restarted

“This project is good for New York”, Dolan declared.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered a speech Wednesday that outlined plans to streamline and improve transportation in the Greater Metro New York City area-with the crown jewel being a transformation of Pennsylvania Station into the “Empire State Station”.

“As it advances”, Dolan said, “if there’s an opportunity to partner with the state, I will gladly take it”. “To really cut to the chase, it is a awful impression of NY”.

The plan itself is not concrete, but instead a series of options for interested private developers to create a mega-hub by combining the already massive Penn with a repurposed Farley Post Office. The project would include improvements like bringing in natural light to what’s now a dark, poorly signed, congested maze underneath Madison Square Garden.

Penn Station is the nation’s busiest train station, with more than 650,000 passengers daily on three rail lines.

Ridership is expected to double over the next 20 years, making an overhaul crucial, Cuomo said.

Cuomo said a number of alternatives would be considered for the Penn Station renovation, such as constructing large entrances along either of the avenues it sits between, putting new entrances at corners, or renovating the interior without changing the exterior. Daniel Patrick Moynihan – Related Cos. and Vornado Realty – will be allowed to rebid on the new redevelopment, administration officials said.

Madison Square Garden will be staying put, but the owners say they’re open to demolishing the 5,600-seat theater along Eighth Avenue (as long as they’re compensated for the loss).

Cuomo insisted almost the entire project will be paid for with private funds in exchange for developers receiving revenue from leases with retail and commercial tenants.

Amtrak President Joseph Boardman called the project a “rail renaissance”.