US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a plan for the renovation of New York City’s Penn Station on Wednesday.
A designated amount of $43 million will be invested by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) in the reconstruction effort. Secretary Duffy—who announced in April that the DOT and Amtrak were taking over Penn Station rebuilding duties from New York’s MTA—commented in front of the station the need for its renovation.
“Crumbling infrastructure, bleak and dirty architecture, unnavigable hallways, and no inviting spaces for families with kids – the current state of Penn Station is unacceptable,” Duffy said. “Under President Trump’s direction, we will transform Penn Station into a world-class transit hub that is beautiful, safe, and clean. The aggressive schedule we’ve outlined will ensure we are back on track to deliver a gleaming monument worthy of New York City.”
Further commenting on the matter, Special Advisor to the Amtrak Board Andy Byford stated that construction will begin in 2027, with an architectural design yet to be revealed.
“The transformation of New York Penn Station is underway, and USDOT and Amtrak are strongly committed to beginning construction by the end of 2027,” Byford said. “We’re grateful to Secretary Duffy and the entire Department of Transportation, as well as President Trump and his administration, for bringing urgency and clarity to the Station’s Transformation and their confidence in allowing Amtrak to carry out their vision for a world-class, safe, and modern station.”
Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steve Bradbury expressed that the White House prefers “an open, airy, bright station with open concourses.”
“President Trump has a vision to make it a new gleaming station, he’s a builder, this is a marquis crown jewel asset, it’s right in the heart of New York City and it deserves a transformation,” Bradbury said, according to ABC 7 News.
The DOT provided a diagram outlining the schedule by which Penn Station will be rebuilt. No mention was made of an estimated completion time.
