The New York Times editorial board writes that the "general agreement" reached between Governor Paterson, Senator Charles Schumer and Amtrak indicates a "concrete step" on building Moynihan Station. They also describe how the plan, and priorities, have changed in a positive way; "Instead of an elaborate mix of shopping, housing, sports arena and, oh, yes, a railroad station, the new plan is a primarily a transportation project." The complete editorial is reprinted below.

Moynihan Station, Maybe
Commuters who endure New York’s gloomy Pennsylvania Station could be forgiven for shrugging off the latest press conference about a splendid replacement finally in the works. For two decades, we have had these promises, often accompanied by exquisite architectural drawings and elaborate talking points. What may be different now is that there are no models and no razzle-dazzle, only an actual concrete step toward finally moving the station into the elegant old Farley Post Office.

Senator Charles Schumer, Gov. David Paterson and Joe Boardman, Amtrak’s president and chief executive, announced this week that there is a “general agreement” that Amtrak will move its operation into the old Farley building. If that deal really happens, this is a major step forward.

Almost 20 years ago, Amtrak agreed to be part of turning the Farley building into New York City’s prime railroad hub. If the station could be as grand as Washington’s Union Station, for example, it would add luster to the railroad experience. But after a decade, Amtrak pulled out of whatever deal was still on the table.

If the new agreement with Amtrak stands, it means Mr. Schumer has helped assure the passenger railroad that it won’t lose revenue by moving its main operations into the post office. And it means the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Mr. Paterson’s people have adjusted the focus of the entire development. Instead of an elaborate mix of shopping, housing, sports arena and, oh, yes, a railroad station, the new plan is a primarily a transportation project.

For that reason, the first step will be making the train and commuter traffic work better underground. This next stage would cost about $270 million and take up to five years as the engineers make it easier for passengers and trains to move through and around the area under the post office. That first phase would, we hope, make it possible to build the showy part above ground — the elegant, sunlit hall for passengers. Then, that station can finally be named for the man who championed the whole idea: Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Read Moynihan Station, Maybe in the New York Times.

Today, MAS President Vin Cipolla released a statement about yesterday's announcement that an agreement has been made on the future development of Moynihan Station.

“After a decade of starts and stops, the future looks brighter for Moynihan Station. The agreement reached by Amtrak, Governor Paterson and Senator Schumer is a critical step towards expanding and improving the nation’s busiest train station.

The plans include moving many of Amtrak's services into a new train hall that will be built in the James A. Farley Post Office, just across the street from Penn Station. While design details have not been released, the agreement furthers Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s vision for a grand work of civic architecture that stands as an inspiring gateway to New York City. With Amtrak as the primary tenant of the new hall, the station can be designed to support the needs of its intercity rail travelers. According to Amtrak, roughly 25% of the nation's Amtrak passengers pass through Penn Station at some point on their journey.

President Obama has made improving our nation’s public transportation infrastructure a high priority. MAS urges the federal government to invest in Moynihan Station as a first step to enhancing rail lines and service on the Northeast Corridor. By dedicating federal funds to this project we can create near-term jobs while enhancing our mass transit system for the long term. Furthermore, Moynihan Station will be a catalyst for development on the Far West Side and will increase capacity and improve the experience for the nearly 500,000 people who move through Penn Station every day.”

After a decade of starts and stops, there may be hope that New Yorker's may finally get the train station they deserve. Today Senator Charles E. Schumer, Governor David A. Paterson and Amtrak president Joseph H. Boardman announced that an agreement has been made on the development of Moynihan Station.

The plans announced today include moving many of Amtrak's services to a new train hall built in the James A. Farley Post Office, across the street from Penn Station. While no design details were released, the proposed plans could realize the dream of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan to have an dignified and elegant new entry into New York.

While the plans for the new train hall have been on the boards for years, it's very good news that Amtrak will be the station's tenant. The train hall can be designed to serve the needs of long range travelers, whose needs are different than commuters. The number of Amtrak travelers is large, and expected to increase. Pennsylvania Station is the busiest rail station in North America, with roughly 25% of all of the nation's Amtrak passengers passing through Penn Station at some point on their journey.

Governor David Paterson said today, “I am extremely pleased to announce that an understanding has been reached between New York State and Amtrak on the future of Moynihan Station. New York City is the lynchpin of Amtrak’s service network in the Northeastern United States, and I welcome this long-term partnership with Amtrak to preserve and enhance the role of rail in New York State and across the region. This project has been a top priority of my Administration, and today is an important step toward delivering on its promise.”

Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “This is a critical step forward in the effort to get the Moynihan Station back on track and keep it that way until it’s done. Amtrak has truly stepped up the plate here to make a commitment to Senator Moynihan’s vision to transform the Farley Post office in to a world class gateway to New York City.”

Amtrak CEO and President Joe Boardman said: “This mutual understanding developed between the parties will the help lead to the development of a world-class passenger station for Amtrak service in New York City and commits all of us to the long-range task of expanding rail and terminal capacity so that Amtrak and the regional commuter operators can collectively meet the growing needs for passenger train service in New York and throughout the Northeast. The building of Moynihan Station will provide the grand entrance that this great city deserves.”

Coverage of the announcement :
Read Amtrak Deal May Revive Moynihan Station in the New York Times.
Read Moynihan Station Pact Reached, N.Y.’s Paterson Says , Bloomberg.com.
Read Manhattan's Moynihan Amtrak station gets go-ahead in the Newsday (note the undated Getty rendering of the station).

The Times' editorial board thinks there may be hope that the dream of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and now Senator Schumer, may be realized. With the leadership of Senator Schumer, federal stimulus money and a major role of the Port Authority, New Yorker's may finally get the train station they deserve. Below is their statement in its entirety.

The Senators’ Railway Station

After years of starts and stalls, replacing New York City’s gloomy, subterranean Pennsylvania Station with an elegant transit hub suddenly looks possible again. Veterans of this project and its many iterations see a glimmer of hope that the grand old Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue can still be converted into a splendid new railroad hall named for the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

That renewed hope is there for two main reasons. First, Washington is handing out money. Second, Senator Charles Schumer, New York’s high-energy force on Capitol Hill, has moved the Moynihan project up on his priority list.

In a speech last week to business leaders, Senator Schumer laid out a cogent plan for making the new station come to life. Amtrak’s new leadership would have to play a major role and agree to make Moynihan the point of departure and arrival for its Northeast Corridor trains.

As a grand open hall — more a renovation with a new skylight than some of the dramatic and complicated schemes of the past — Farley would then become the uplifting gateway to New York City. The overall scheme would also allow for major renovations to the existing Penn Station, now an intolerably confusing maze.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would also be asked to play a major role. The authority has many items on its to-do list, including rebuilding at ground zero and creating a new tunnel under the Hudson from New Jersey. But as Mr. Schumer and others argue, it makes sense for the authority to coordinate what is essentially a major Midtown transportation project.

Mr. Schumer suggests, rightly, that the authority could contribute at least $1 billion of the money it now has earmarked for city projects. That would be added to $250 million designated for Moynihan that’s been sitting in the bank for years. Finally, Mr. Schumer and others want to move swiftly to get their hands on some of the money for high-speed rail and Amtrak included in the new stimulus package.

Mr. Schumer’s point, and one that deserves repeating, is that in the Great Depression, New Yorkers went for the sky. They built the Empire State Building. Now it’s time to reach again, to use the present economic crisis to fulfill Senator Moynihan’s enduring dream of a great railway entrance into New York City.

Read The Senators’ Railway Station in the New York Times.

The Friends of Moynihan Station, of which the Municipal Art Society is a member, sent the following letter to Governor Paterson asking for his support of Moynihan Station.

Dear Governor Paterson:

We are writing to encourage you to act quickly and decisively on Senator Charles Schumer’s call to jump-start Moynihan Station by publicly announcing your full support for the project.

Your support is necessary for Moynihan Station to receive some of the federal funds available for rail projects thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If the $100 million that Senator Schumer requested from Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration is not spent on Moynihan, it will likely go to out-of-state projects.

Moynihan Station is one of the most critical civic and infrastructure projects planned for New York City this decade. It will be one of the main catalysts for economic growth in Manhattan and the region as the economy recovers. It will also allow for the construction of High-Speed Rail service on the Empire Line, which will help to revitalize upstate New York.

We ask you to announce your full support for the project by inviting the Port Authority to act as a co-lead agency with the Empire State Development Corporation.

The Friends of Moynihan Station look forward to working with you and your administration to make Moynihan Station a reality.

Sincerely,
Friends of Moynihan Station

Read the letter to Governor Paterson.

Today Senator Schumer announced a plan to jump start the Moynihan Station project, by using some federal stimulus money to build a train station in the Farley Post Office that would be used by Amtrak. MAS President Vin Cipolla commented on the Senator's plans.

"The Municipal Art Society wholeheartedly supports Senator Schumer’s plan to achieve a new Moynihan Station. By dedicating federal stimulus funds to this project we can create near-term jobs while enhancing our mass transit system for the long term. Federal funding also enables us to protect the public’s interest in this project, creating a grand work of civic architecture that that stands as an inspiring gateway to New York City. This project has a real functional purpose; it will increase capacity and improve the experience for the nearly 500,000 people who move through Penn Station every day.

President Obama has made improving our nation’s public transportation infrastructure a high priority. In that light, Moynihan Station should be seen as a first step in enhancing rail lines and service on the Northeast Corridor."

"

Charles Bagli reports in the Times that Senator Schumer has a plan to jump start the Moynihan Station project, by using some federal stimulus money to build a train station in the Farley Post Office that would be used by Amtrak.

Bagli wrote: "Senator Charles E. Schumer is calling for the injection of $100 million in federal stimulus funds to convert the post office building, expand the city’s transportation infrastructure and employ thousands of workers. Mr. Schumer also renewed his call for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to take charge of the project and asked them to invest $1 billion."

The $100 million would not be from the State and City’s stimulus money ( read here for more information ), but rather from the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail service and $1.3 billion set aside for Amtrak. Schumer called for Amtrak to be more actively involved in the project and suggested they should be the tenant in the new station. They could offset operating costs through revenue from new retail in the station (may we suggest that Grand Central be the model ).

In addition to the Port Authority taking over the project, Schumer called on them to contribute at least $1 billion to the project. PA Executive Director Chris Ward responded:

"The senator’s effort to get Moynihan started is consistent with the port’s goal of developing a financially viable project,” said Christopher O. Ward, executive director of the authority. “The key is to work with Amtrak on an important transportation project for the entire region. Finding the necessary funding is our No. 1 priority.”

Schumer injected a note of urgency in getting started. “This is just what was envisioned by the stimulus: shovel-ready projects that generate a lot of jobs,” Mr. Schumer said.

We couldn’t agree more.

Read “Schumer Seeks Federal Stimulus Funds to Jump-Start Moynihan Transit Project,” by Charles Bagli in The New York Times

Recently, we were asked the following question on our Facebook page "With all the talk about President Obama's Economic Stimulus Package and its billions of dollars for public works projects, what's happening with the Moynihan Station project?"

MAS remains a strong supporter of Moynihan Station. The project will increase capacity at the over-crowded (and miserable) Penn Station, which is the nation’s busiest transportation hub, with nearly half a million people passing through it every day. We don’t know whether the project will receive money from President Obama’s stimulus package, but it certainly seems to be eligible.

Plans for Moynihan Station have been in the works for more than a decade. Senator Moynihan’s original conception was to convert the Farley General Post office, which sits over the same tracks as Penn Station, into a new train hall that would expand the capacity of Penn Station and create a great civic train station and dignified entry into New York. Several years ago the scope of the plans expanded dramatically, to build a new Madison Square Garden in the west end of the Post Office, demolish the current Garden and construct a retail complex with an upgraded Penn Station underneath. Last winter, Madison Square Garden announced it was pulling out of the project and instead renovating their arena.

Nicolai Ouroussoff, The New York Times architecture critic, wrote a rambunctious article about the handful of New York City the should face the wrecking ball. It's no surprise that Madison Square Garden topped the list.

Ouroussoff wrote:

No site in New York has a darker past than this one. The demolition of the old Pennsylvania Station, the monumental McKim, Mead & White Beaux-Arts gem that stood on this site until 1964, remains one of the greatest crimes in American architectural history.

What replaced it is one of the city’s most dehumanizing spaces: a warren of cramped corridors and waiting areas buried under the monstrous drum of the Garden.

Over the years the city has entertained dozens of proposals to improve the station, but none have amounted to much of anything, thanks to New York’s byzantine development politics.

I propose we demolish the Garden. As arenas go, it is cramped and decrepit. And with it gone we could begin to imagine what a contemporary version of the old Penn Station: a monumental gateway to the 21st-century metropolis.

Well said!

See that blue "WAMU Theater" sign in the photo? It won't be there for long. According to the Times, since the Feds seized WAMU, the theater is going to have to change its name.

Read Name Change Is Likely for WaMu Theater by Richard Sandomir in The New York Times.

Read New York City, Tear Down These Walls by Nicolai Ouroussoff in The New York Times.

Photo: by R. Conrad/The New York Times