Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images
New York Penn Station is slated for a multi-billion-dollar transformation beginning in 2027. Announced by Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and former New York City Transit Authority President Andy Byford, the project aims to revitalize the station to be operationally sound, safe, and easy to navigate, with a focus on excellence. Byford, now a special advisor to the Amtrak Board of Directors, is leading the redevelopment effort.
The transformation will include a comprehensive redesign of the station, which is currently home to Amtrak, NJ Transit, and the Long Island Rail Road. According to City & State, Byford emphasized the importance of engaging all stakeholders, including James Dolan, owner of Madison Square Garden (MSG), which sits atop the station. The future of MSG's location remains undecided, with discussions on potential relocation to be addressed later.
Byford's appointment has been met with optimism from various advocacy groups, who see it as a step toward a visionary rebuild of Penn Station. As reported by The Architect's Newspaper, Byford supports the idea of through-running service, which would allow trains to pass through the station instead of backing out, although this concept has not been favored by the railroads.
The project will begin with a competition to hire a master builder by May 2026. While there is speculation about renaming the station to Trump Station, Secretary Duffy stated that such a decision would be considered at a later time. With 12 million riders last year, Penn Station is the busiest train station in the United States. The redevelopment aims to meet the needs of its many users and restore the station's former grandeur.