Transportation Sec Duffy touts plans to overhaul NYC's Penn Station

(The Center Square) — The Trump administration is exerting its authority over plans to renovate New York City's Pennsylvania Station, vowing to break ground on the long-delayed megaproject by 2027 and hinting that the new structure might be renamed after the president.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday announced a new timeline for the project, along with a $43 million federal grant to Amtrak to "jump-start" permitting and preliminary engineering work, and hire a "special master" developer.

“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 in a statement. "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."

In April, the Trump administration took over the project from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, announcing that Amtrak would oversee the renovations as part of a "public-private partnership" and accusing the state transit agency of bungling the $7 billion project.

"The MTA’s history of inefficiency, waste, and mismanagement also meant that a new approach is needed," Duffy said at the time. "By putting taxpayers first, we’re ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to create a transit hub all Americans can take a ride in."

Andy Byford, a former NYC Transit chief known as “Train Daddy", was tapped by the White House to lead the project. He said the transformation of Penn Station "must be much more than bricks and mortar."

"It must be about making the station operationally sound safe, clean and easy to navigate," Byford told reporters Wednesday. "And I want, in the future, this station to ooze excellence in every form."

Penn Station is one of the major gateways to New York City, with more than 1,000 daily trains along 21 tracks, according to Amtrak figures. More than 200,000 commuter and other passenger trips pass through the station each day.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who withdrew $1.3 billion in state funding for the project after the DOT took it over, touted that the renovation project is finally moving forward after discussions with the president.

"Those conversations successfully secured federal funding in April to advance redevelopment, allowing us to reallocate over $1 billion for other critical projects," Hochul said in a statement. "With Secretary Duffy now advancing this project and requesting design proposals, New Yorkers are one step closer to a station worthy of this great city."

At a Wednesday briefing on the plans, Duffy suggested the new station might eventually be renamed after Trump, a native New Yorker and former NYC developer, saying it's "a conversation that could happen at some other point."

“I imagine you’re asking, ‘Is this going to be Trump Station?’” he told reporters Wednesday. "I think that has a nice ring to it, but listen, we're all working to build this project."