Railroads studying options to increase capacity at a busy transit hub have decided that expansion is the best solution.
Amtrak and the commuter railroads utilizing Pennsylvania Station in New York City have concluded that expanding the station is necessary due to increased capacity demands. The proposal to enlarge the underground station, the busiest transit hub in the nation, has been under consideration for over a decade. Despite opposition from community activists and some transit advocates, officials from Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New Jersey Transit, and other railroads have determined that expanding beyond the current boundaries of the station is the only viable option.
The project aims to accommodate a higher volume of trains and passengers by doubling the number of trains crossing the Hudson River during peak hours, despite a decrease in ridership on the region’s commuter railroads since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Construction is underway for the Gateway tunnel project, which will add two tracks to the existing two tracks that were constructed under the Hudson River over a century ago.
As part of this initiative, Amtrak has identified a full block in Midtown Manhattan just south of Penn Station for expansion. This block is densely developed, housing apartment buildings, restaurants, and a historic Roman Catholic church that has stood for over 150 years.
Source: The NY Times
