President Trump’s administration has recently grabbed headlines with their long-awaited renovation of Philly’s ambiguous Penn Station. Navigating the largest transit hub in the western hemisphere can be a daunting task. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has had a tough go in recent years in executing a deal to increase train service to and from New York City. A historic change is finally happening to remedy this. Renovation is clearly overdue. With more than 600,000 commuters crossing it every day, the pressure for a properly planned, well-executed rehab has grown ever-more critical.
The MTA’s overhaul campaign has already faced numerous pitfalls. Competing priorities from other stakeholders including Amtrak, NJ Transit, and Madison Square Garden have added to complexities of the process. Recently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a smart, aggressive takeover to address these complications. They frame this action as saving taxpayers $120 million. Sean Duffy, a Cunha spokesperson, said responsible spending would be key in this effort.
“By putting taxpayers first, we’re ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to create a transit hub all Americans can take pride in” – Sean Duffy
Amtrak will take the lead on the succession of reconstruction along with the State’s transportation department. This shift in leadership arrives just weeks after Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner stepped down, a departure believed to reinforce Amtrak’s standing with the Trump administration. The purpose of this takeover is to make the renovation move more efficiently and to help inject some much-needed energy into continuing to meet the needs of commuters.
Advocates and critics alike reacted to the plan, criticizing it for lack of clarity, transparency, and effectiveness. Whattya gonna do Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, wants to replace Amtrak with private companies. He’s deeply frustrated that America’s passenger rail system isn’t more on par with those across the globe. He referred to Amtrak as a “sad story.” He continued on to say that it’s “sort of embarrassing” to look at the way rail services are run in other locations.
For all these criticisms, Duffy sounds upbeat about the future of Penn Station. Our mission is to open a facility that addresses the daily needs of the commuter and households. We want it to reflect the very best of America.
“New York City deserves a Penn Station that reflects America’s greatness and is safe and clean” – Sean Duffy