At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Hochul announced a plan for the Midtown Transit Center that will include a new train lobby with entry to natural light, higher ceilings, new escalators, stairs and elevators, and a lobby. underground pedestrian that connects the station with Herald Square.
The project will take four to five years to complete and cost between $ 6 and $ 7 billion, according to Hochul. This marks a big difference with the one proposed by former Governor Cuomo, which amounted to $ 20,000, and whose works would not finish until 2038.
It will also include several new buildings that will house up to 1,800 residential apartment units, of which 540 will be permanently affordable, space for community and social services, eight acres of public space and new protected bike lanes, he added.
The governor, who described the current Penn Station As a “depressing” transit hub, he called the station confusing and always crowded, noting that New Yorkers deserve a world-class transportation system.
Through a tweet, he also compared the reconstruction result as a new train hall larger than the Grand Central and Moynihan train lobbies combined.
MTA President and Acting CEO Janno Lieber came out in support of the governor’s plan several hours after the announcement, and gave reporters a tour of the venues. Penn Station where you think improvements can be made.
He indicated that it is difficult to identify where the North, the East or the West is.
In addition to reducing the height of the buildings from its predecessor’s plan, Hochul’s plan also includes adding more entrances and exits to the station and creating more spacious corridors for travelers.
State Senator Brad Hoylman tweeted saying he was glad community input, such as the Association for Regional Plans, was supporting Hochul’s plans to “renovate America’s busiest transit hub.”
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