### Expansion Debate Continues: Railroads Push for Larger Penn Station

Amtrak and the commuter railroads that utilize Penn Station in New York City have concluded, after an exhaustive study, that expanding the station's boundaries is essential. Despite old estimates putting the cost at around $16 billion, officials assert that enlarging the transit hub, which spans two blocks beneath Madison Square Garden, is the only feasible solution to doubling train capacity.

Commuter railroads including Amtrak and New Jersey Transit aim to increase the number of trains crossing the Hudson River during peak hours. Their plans are part of the Gateway project, aimed at adding two new tracks to complement the existing two built over a century ago. This plan necessitates acquiring additional land in Midtown Manhattan, though exactly which properties remain undetermined. The potential expansion could impact apartment buildings, restaurants, and a Roman Catholic church over 150 years old.

Governor Kathy Hochul has decoupled a massive redevelopment plan from station renovations, originally endorsed by her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo. The railroads are looking to secure federal approval for the expansion soon but face challenges in identifying alternative funding sources due to diminished post-pandemic commercial development demand.

Critics of the expansion, such as Samuel Turvey of ReThink Penn Station, advocate for through-running as an alternative. This method would allow trains to pass through Penn Station, increasing efficiency without necessitating significant demolition. However, railroad officials maintain that through-running alone will not meet their goal of handling 48 trains per hour, twice the current capacity.

The newly formed advisory group of local leaders and transportation experts will reconvene later this month to evaluate the proposed expansion plans further. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and others are revising a $7 billion renovation proposal to transform Penn Station into a "world-class masterpiece," albeit with increasing attention to cost minimization.