The Trump administration has announced a change in leadership for the $7 billion New York Penn Station reconstruction project, awarding the lead role to Amtrak instead of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). As part of this shift, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is also modifying Amtrak’s federal grant for the project, which was initially awarded under the Biden administration. This action is projected to save taxpayers approximately $120 million while still ensuring the completion of a modern and efficient station.
Amtrak owns Penn Station and operates its long-distance train services. The station is also a major hub for MTA, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and New Jersey Transit trains. The MTA has plans to extend its Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line to serve Penn Station in the future.