Penn Station Expansion Will Add 8 Tracks, Gov Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — New York State's development agency will expand Penn Station by adding eight new tracks in a complex that will take over an entire city block, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

Cuomo revealed the expansion plan for Midtown's troubled transit hub during Monday's Association for a Better New York luncheon, a $200-per-ticket event which draws power players from New York's political, real estate and business circles. The expansion will increase Penn Station's capacity by 40%, Cuomo said.

Cuomo dubbed the expanded transit hub the "Empire Station Complex" during his Monday speech. State officials expect the expansion to reduce congestion at Penn Station, which sees daily traffic of about 650,000 commuters.

"This will improve how more than half a million New Yorkers commute, travel and work every day, while transforming Penn into the world-class facility the Empire State deserves," Cuomo said.

Penn Station's current facility, located between Seventh and Eighth Avenues from West 31st to 33rd streets, currently supports 21 train tracks. The tracks service Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains. The expansion will take up an entire block located south of the current transit hub.

The expansion terminal will be add an estimated 125,000 square feet to Penn Station's transit hub, state officials said.

Amtrak board chair Anthony Coscia praised the governor's plan. Coscia described the expansion as "forward-thinking" and "a model to the nation as we strive to build 21st century transportation and infrastructure systems." Amtrak owns the existing Penn Station complex and will help plan and finance the expansion, state officials said Monday.

Cuomo did not address costs of the expansion plan during his speech. The governor also did not mention the timeline for construction, or how the state plans to acquire the expansion site spanning West 30th and 31st streets between Seventh and Eighth avenues.