[title]
The story is still developing, but here’s what we know so far: yesterday, Federal Railroad Administration Chief Counsel Kyle Fields sent a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber, effectively announcing that the federal government will take over the $7 billion Penn Station renovation project. According to reports, the project will now be overseen by Amtrak, which owns the station—a move that, according to President Donald Trump’s team, is expected to save a total of $120 million.
"There is no reason to delegate leadership of this important project," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in a statement, as first reported by Gothamist. "President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over. New York City deserves a Penn Station that reflects America’s greatness and is safe and clean. The MTA’s history of inefficiency, waste and mismanagement also meant that a new approach is needed. By putting taxpayers first, we’re ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to create a transit hub all Americans can take pride in."
The massive reconstruction plan has been in development for years, with various local agencies working on it in staggered phases—leading to complaints from both the agencies themselves and frustrated commuters.
In a statement released after the news broke, New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed full support for the development.
"In multiple meetings with President Trump, I requested that the federal government fund the long-overdue overhaul of Penn Station," said Hochul. "Clearly, that effort has been successful, and I want to thank the president and Secretary Duffy for taking on full responsibility to deliver the beautiful new $7 billion station that New Yorkers deserve. This is a major victory for New Yorkers, and the use of federal funds will save state taxpayers $1.3 billion that would have otherwise been required for the project."
The news comes just a few weeks after officials proposed a dramatic revamp of the transit hub by relocating Madison Square Garden—which currently sits directly above Penn Station—to a nearby site across the street.
Whether that plan moves forward, how exactly the new overhaul will be executed and what the timeline looks like all remain unclear. But, for now, it seems all parties involved are (at least tentatively) on the same page.
Here’s an interesting tidbit, as reported by Gothamist: according to Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association, there’s a chance the renovated station could be renamed after Trump.
"If that’s what it takes to get a great Penn Station," he said in an official statement. Time will tell whether the iconic transit hub ends up bearing the Trump name—but we wouldn't be surprised if it did.