URGENT

New York City deserves a great Penn Station with modern transit operations that improves the city, state and region — we have a cost-effective, truly transformative modern plan that does this and does not destroy the Penn neighborhood!

Please write to the Governor and others and let them know you want our plan to be fully and fairly evaluated.

RethinkNYC’s Through-Running Proposal for Penn Station will be on a cost-effective basis and:

•  Provide connectivity for twenty million plus regional residents

• Increase capacity for NJT (48 peak Trains Per Hour) and LIRR (6 peak Trains Per Hour)

• Provide better safety as a result of improved vertical circulation (Implementation Plan)

• Represents a more equitable and sustainable growth pattern for the region, expanding the region’s core

• Will relieve pressures to cannibalize midtown Manhattan for supertalls (See Cronson/Holowka photo essay)

• Can be implemented contemporaneously with the opening of Gateway Tunnels in 2040. Systems integration work can proceed while tunnels are being built

• Can be accomplished with no need to demolish the neighborhood adjacent to Penn Station/More favorable impacts on embodied carbon release    

The present plans for Penn Station are in disarray and, to the extent they are known, look to demolish the Penn Station neighborhood. An improved station plan, which would still be under Madison Square Garden, is in flux – as is the operating model at track level.

These plans are not only in flux but are deeply flawed and depend on a dated transit operating model that contravenes federal railroad administration guidance. Penn Station’s essential transit operation would remain unchanged, subjecting tens of thousands to crowded and dangerous conditions.

The plans will also destroy blocks of a unique New York neighborhood and displace hundreds of apartment dwellers and small business owners. The historic Hotel Pennsylvania has already been destroyed. Many other irreplaceable buildings would be demolished.

Penn Station itself would remain buried beneath Madison Square Garden which creates substantial impediments to optimized transit operations and the ability to create a worthy Penn Station above it.

In sum, we can and should have a great and world class Penn Station that anchors a modernized unified regional rail capability. That is the opportunity clearly before us. We do not need to sacrifice the neighborhood in order to implement a lesser, more expensive, and retrograde plan.

Please let the Governor and others know this is how you see it. Make sure to let her know that you want a truly independent process to review options, including through-running, so that we can maximize the opportunity presented by Penn Station’s remediation. We can have a truly greater New York city, state, and region.

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