Pennsylvania Station NYC: What’s to know about their HUGE Expansion

By Esther Akinsola

Now an eyesore, the Pennsylvania Station owned by Amtrak is not only the biggest trail and transit hub station in New York but also the busiest in 2023.

The station served over 600,000 people in 2009 and is patronized by 45,000,000 each year. New York Penn Station is located in midtown Manhattan right beneath the Madison square garden and bordered by 7^th and 9^th Avenue and thirty-first to thirty-third Streets.

The station is named after the construction company that built it in 1910: The Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The construction of Pennsylvania Station marked the emergence of the first direct connection between New York and the south of the country.

A report by the New York Times on August 29, 1910, proclaimed Pennsylvania Station as “the largest building in the world ever built at one time”.

The station houses trains from three railway companies namely; Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak. While each of these railway companies serves different purposes and markets they have been able to thrive in the same place. Ironically, one of the nation’s most beautiful train stations has opened recently across Eighth Avenue from Penn….the Moynihan Train Hall.

Why was Penn Station demolished?

Constructed by industry experts McKim Mead and Stanford White in 1905 Pennsylvania Station was built by clearing over 500 buildings equivalent to two city blocks. Thomas Wolfe, a great writer of the 20^th century described the station as a place where “the voice of time remained cool and undisturbed, a dozy and eternal murmur below the distant roof”.

The architectural masterpiece possessed nine acres of traveline and granite, 84 Doric columns, and soaring vaulted ceilings. It is synonymous with royal Roman baths as it has precious stones that add an undeniable oomph to the structure. By all descriptions, the station is an architectural success.

The demolition of the structure was announced on July 25^th, 1961, began in 1961, and was completed in 1966. The demolition happened despite the efforts of AGBANY and a few hundred New Yorkers, to find adaptive ways to preserve the station,

As a part of the efforts to generate more income, the Pennsylvania Railroad Executive decided to demolish the structure to build new ones– A new larger station, Madison Square, and Garden sports and entertainment complex right above the station.

Moving Forward in

The initial plan was designed by Vornado realty trust and included erecting office towers that will serve as a source of funding for the New Penn Station.

Governor Kathy Hochul shared that the demand for office space in Manhattan has witnessed a great decline since the pandemic. The New Penn Station will not have office spaces making a reflection of the need to renovate the subterranean station on the eighth avenue.

According to Governor Kathy Hochul, the new plan to rebuild Pennsylvania Station puts New Yorkers first and delivers rider-focused transit.

The experience and the exceptional neighborhood they deserve, explaining further she noted that “investing in Penn station means investing in New York’s future as we build a more sustainable livable city.”

In a layout plan shared on Governor Kathy Hochul’s website, the New Penn station will be a sunlit, single-level modern train hall comprising of wilder corridors, more space, and a welcoming feel.

The plan further discusses what to expect from the new design as a strategy to revitalize the whole neighborhood with an addition of new residential and commercial space and an eight-acre public space.

Funding

Single-level train hall: The proposed budget for the construction of the new station is $7B of which a Pennsylvania Station Area Public Realm fund will be created. It will be funded by some percentage of the real estate revenues generated from the new redevelopment of the GPP sales, and this is expected to start with a commitment of 50 million dollars in early project revenue.

What you should expect

In a press meeting held on June 9, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy, the Governor of New Jersey described the Station “as a centerpiece of one of the most important transportation networks in the world–Pennsylvania station deserves an appearance and ambiance that reflect its tremendous importance to the region”.

18 Escalators, 11 Elevators

The new plan is projected to provide jobs for over 50,000 constructors. It will include eighteen more escalators or stairs and eleven elevators this is to simplify navigation and reach within the station.

The station is expected to be completed by 2042 and will include underground loading/unloading for MSG and taking trucks off the streets. It will also provide up to 1800 residential units of which 540 would be permanently affordable.

The plan is projected to widen sidewalks throughout the neighborhood and recommends thirty-one to thirty-three streets become shared streets to prioritize pedestrians. The New Station will have a protected bike lane keeping true to its vision of making the safety of New Yorkers a top priority

An Exciting Time for the Station

Responding to Governor Hochul’s plan and vision for Pennsylvania Station, Assemblymember Amy Paulin said “ This next phase in the renovation of Penn Station is an exciting one” explaining further the key role public transportation plays in livelihood. Thousands of commuters and travelers who go through Penn Station daily will benefit quality-of-life from the reconstruction.

Eric Adams, New York City mayor noted that “For too long, the station has been outdated and inefficient. The change has been disturbed over the years by petty disagreement” He expressed his excitement about the commitment of the partners working constructively to make the plan a success.

Train Travel Across the USA