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This Wednesday, April 28, the Moynihan Station Development Corporation (MSDC) is holding a hearing on the updated plans for Moynihan Station. They are seeking comments on two technical documents they released earlier this month, the Draft Amended General Project Plan and the Environmental Assessment.

The two documents reflect how similar the project is to what was approved in 2006, and provide details on the few key differences. The project has now been broken down into manageable phases that are achievable (described below), and Amtrak is identified as the primary transportation tenant in the new station — something MAS and other civic groups have long advocated for.

Phase 1, which consists largely of improvements below ground, will begin this year and be completed in 2015. This phase is fully funded and will result in improved circulation and greater access to platforms. The most visible part of this work will be two new entries into the Farley Post Office building, at street level on Eighth Avenue.

Phase 2 consists of construction of the train hall in the Farley Post Office. Work will begin later than Phase 1, but, if everything goes well, could also be complete in 2015. The Train Hall has not yet been designed, but the recently-released documents describe it as, "A new, iconic, sky-lit train hall (including a grand concourse larger than Grand Central Terminal's main concourse), constructed largely within original Farley's courtyard, covered by a glass roofscape, with direct vertical access to train platforms below." Phase 2 would also include private development within the Farley Post Office, which could be made up of retail and possibly a hotel.

"This project is pivotal for New York City and the whole region. The work to improve circulation and access included in Phase 1 will provide much-needed breathing room for commuters who know how severely overcrowded Penn Station is now ", said MAS President Vin Cipolla.

Yesterday, Governor Paterson issued a press release announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Amtrak. That document secures the agreement that Amtrak will operate the new intercity passenger station in the Farley Post Office, named Moynihan Station.

This announcement comes on the heels of the announcement that the Moynihan Station project was awarded an $83 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. With that award, Phase 1 of the project is fully funded and work can begin this year.

Of the agreement, Governor Paterson said, "Finally, the State will be able to embark upon phase one of this project, which is good news for our construction workers, good news for the State and good news for the thousands of passengers that crowd Penn Station on a daily basis."

Vin Cipolla, president of the Municipal Art Society, voiced strong support for the agreement. “Amtrak is the ideal tenant for the new Moynihan Station, which can be designed to support the needs of its intercity rail travelers. With roughly 25 percent of the nation's Amtrak passengers passing through Penn Station at some point on their journey, the new station will provide the great gateway to New York City that was envisioned by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.”

After months of relatively little media attention, Moynihan Station is back in the spotlight after Senator Schumer's announcement yesterday that the project has received $83.3 million from the federal government's Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The money will be used to complete funding for Phase 1 of the project.

However, judging from today's headlines, some are still weary of the project's future, while others see this development as the "light in the tunnel for the long-delayed Moynihan Station plan" (NY1).

From the New York Times:
Money for Moynihan Station, but Future’s Still Murky
"The long-delayed plan to build a grand annex to Pennsylvania Station beside the existing underground warren received $83.3 million in federal stimulus funds on Tuesday. But the billion-dollar project’s long-term prospects remained decidedly murky."

One of the Municipal Art Society's most urgent priorities for New York – the transformation of the James A. Farley Post Office to Moynihan Station – took a significant step forward today, when US Senator Charles Schumer announced that the federal government will award $83 million in stimulus funds to begin the first phase of the project.

MAS President Vin Cipolla welcomed the news. “With today’s announcement, the federal government is recognizing what the Municipal Art Society has long known, that the construction of a new train station is critical to the future economies of New York City and State. The new station will create construction jobs in the near term; improve the capacity of Penn Station and the whole Northeast Corridor; and, once complete, will be a catalyst for development on Manhattan’s far West Side,” he said.

“It was more than a decade ago that the Municipal Art Society began working with Senator Moynihan to conceive of a new station that would reclaim Penn Station’s lost grandeur and create a great new gateway into New York City,” he continued. “By awarding Moynihan Station this grant, the federal government is not only achieving its goals of creating jobs and improving the nation’s rail infrastructure, but also helping to create a station that will make all New York proud.”

Plans for Moynihan Station include the construction of a new train hall for Amtrak in the Farley Post Office, just across the street from Penn Station and over the same tracks. Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit will continue to operate in Penn Station, but will have greater capacity once the train hall is complete.

With the announcement of the grant, Phase 1 of the project is fully funded at $270 million. Work in Phase 1 includes expanding the passageway below 33rd Street between Penn Station and Farley’s west end concourse, which will double their width, increasing capacity and providing access to subways and the new New Jersey Transit station. Two additional entrances into the Farley building on Eighth Avenue will be created. Other work includes improving safety by adding six new ventilation fan rooms as well as expanding egress. Phase 1 is expected to begin this year and last until 2015.

The current plan for Moynihan Station places the highest priority on improving the station’s infrastructure and developing the civic spaces. With Amtrak agreeing the be the station’s primary tenant, the station will serve intercity rail passengers and alleviate crowding at Penn Station, which is operating at 100 percent over capacity. Penn Station is the nation’s most heavily trafficked gateway, with more than 640,000 people a day moving through its corridors.

Read the statement from the Friends of Moynihan Station on their web site.

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."

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