Penn Station Access
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Penn_Station_Access_Map.png/390px-Penn_Station_Access_Map.png)
Penn Station Access (PSA) is a
The project is scheduled to complement
Background
A 1969 proposal by the North Bronx Transportation Project considered running trains via the Hell Gate Bridge to Penn Station, with travel times estimated to be 25 minutes. Some plans for the Second Avenue Subway included integration with the upper portion of the line, providing express service from the East Side of Manhattan to Co-op City and Parkchester. This line was also considered for through-running with the Northeast Corridor in New Jersey, easing travel for residents of Westchester and Connecticut trying to get to New Jersey.[1]: 104, 128, 130
While not proposed officially, in June 1973, two Congressmen and the Mayor of
The Penn Station Access project was initiated on September 2, 1999, when the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Bronx_Kill_eastern_filled_land_jeh.jpg/220px-Bronx_Kill_eastern_filled_land_jeh.jpg)
In November 2000, the Final Scoping Document for Penn Station Access was completed, showing 18 alternatives, including a no-build option, a Transportation Systems Management option, various commuter rail options, and alternatives using other modes. Various alternatives considered various ways to run service to Penn Station from the New Haven Line, the Hudson Line, and the Harlem Line, either during all times, or only operating during off-peak hours and weekends. Existing Metro-North riders would have the choice of arriving at either Penn Station or Grand Central on the New Haven Line and the Hudson Line.
In September 2002, a second screening took place narrowing five alternatives to four, and narrowing 20 potential station locations in the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan to five locations. The remaining alternatives considered would have used either the Hudson or New Haven Lines. The Harlem Line options were removed from consideration. The five remaining stations under consideration were at West 125th Street and West 59th Street under the Hudson alternative, and at Co-Op City, Parkchester and Hunts Point under the New Haven alternative.[3] The preferred alternatives would have used 3 miles (4.8 km) of trackage, and would have involved the construction of six new Metro-North stations in the Bronx and Manhattan, allowing riders in these areas to easily access Penn Station, Westchester, Dutchess, and Putnam counties upstate as well as Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.[9][10] Existing Metro-North riders would have the choice of arriving at either Penn Station or Grand Central on the New Haven Line and the Hudson Line.[6]
Afterwards, in coordination with the current rail operators at Penn Station (Amtrak, LIRR, and New Jersey Transit) it was determined that there were several operational limitations with the Hudson Line service alternative, mainly because the Empire Line's connection into Penn Station consists of only one track. The connection only leads to tracks 1–8 at Penn, which are used primarily by NJ Transit, with some usage by Amtrak. Since the implementation of Penn Station Access via the Hudson Line would have required substantial service reductions to those Penn Station tracks by NJ Transit and Amtrak or a new connection between the Empire Line and the LIRR tracks at Penn, progress did not continue on this alternative. Even though the Hell Gate Line alternative was chosen, this alternative is still being considered by Metro-North as capacity improvements at Penn Stations are underway, such as the Gateway tunnels.[11] Penn Station Access would also provide system resiliency to protect service in the event of natural or other disasters.[12]
By 2011, Metro-North had initiated a federal environmental study for Penn Station Access, to be completed by 2013. The cost of the project was estimated at $350 million with the state of Connecticut funding $100 million and the state of New York funding the remaining $250 million.[13][14]
Phase One
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Concrete_pour_for_Amtrak%E2%80%99s_4.6_Case_Platform_at_track_level_adjacent_to_active_rail_in_Woodside%2C_Queens._%28CQ033%2C_11-15-2017%29_%2837771815974%29.jpg/220px-Concrete_pour_for_Amtrak%E2%80%99s_4.6_Case_Platform_at_track_level_adjacent_to_active_rail_in_Woodside%2C_Queens._%28CQ033%2C_11-15-2017%29_%2837771815974%29.jpg)
The first piece of Penn Station Access would route some New Haven Line trains down Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to Penn Station. The New Haven Line to Grand Central splits off from the Northeast Corridor near
Previously, a station was also considered to be built in
Planning
Original announcement
On January 8, 2014, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo voiced support for the project in his 2014 State of the State address.[12] With his support for the project, $695 million was budgeted for the project in the MTA's 2015–2019 Capital Program.[20] In order to accommodate more trains, power and signal systems, and yards at Penn Station and New Rochelle[21] will be upgraded and three railroad bridges will be rehabilitated or replaced.[15] In addition, a third track will be installed between the Parkchester/Van Nest station and north of the Co-Op City station, and additional switches will be added. Metro-North service to Penn Station will begin after the completion of the East Side Access project, which has diverted some Long island Rail Road trains to Grand Central, therefore opening up slots at Penn Station for Metro-North service.[20] During peak hours there will be between six and ten trains to Penn Station. There will be four trains per hour to Connecticut in the reverse peak direction, and there will be two trains per hour to and from Penn Station during off-peak and weekends.[22]
The project would add redundancy to the regional transportation network in case of service interruption. Regional connectivity will be increased with accessible transfers to Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit at Penn Station. Through-running between the New Haven Line and NJ Transit would be possible, linking business centers in Connecticut and New Jersey while providing access to
Design process
At the MTA's Metro-North Railroad Committee meeting on January 22, 2019, it was announced that Amtrak and the MTA had reached an agreement regarding track usage rights, and $35 million was approved for initial engineering design work.[24] In addition, HNTB New York Engineering and Architecture received a $35 million contract to consult on the planning of the four new stations.[25][26][27] In exchange for being allowed to use the Hell Gate Line and build the four stations, the MTA agreed to replace the Pelham Bay Bridge across the Hutchinson River, as well as pay access fees for using the Hell Gate Bridge. Amtrak and the MTA also agreed to conduct a joint study on the feasibility of extending Amtrak service to Long Island via the tracks used by the LIRR.[28][29] As part of the project, three track interlockings would be built, one existing interlocking would be rehabilitated, and the line would be widened from three to four tracks between the Hell Gate and Pelham Bay Bridges.[30]: 50 The expanded services will operate at Moynihan Train Hall, an expansion of Penn Station into the neighboring James A. Farley Building.[31]
Design for the project began in February 2019, and construction was expected to begin in late 2020, with an expected opening by 2023.
Funding and construction
On December 13, 2021, it was announced that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had helped broker a deal with the MTA and Amtrak to fund $500 million for the PSA project and $432 million for the rehabilitation of the East River Tunnels using money available due to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[39] On December 15, the MTA Board approved the award of a 63-month design-build contract for the project to a joint venture of Halmar International and RailWork Transit for $1,850,643,000, of which $133,580,000 was for an option to complete improvements in New Rochelle Yard. The MTA Board also approved a cost sharing agreement with Amtrak that set the conditions for the completion of the project on Amtrak's right-of-way. Amtrak agreed to fund $500 million of the project costs as it derived some benefits from the project.[40]
On the same date, the MTA Board approved the awarding of an 86-month contract to WSP USA and Atlas ATC Engineering for project management. The contract was awarded for $116,572,815, with an option for $17,035,237.[41] Furthermore, the MTA Board approved an amendment to the 2020–2024 Capital Program to increase the entire cost of the project to $2.867 billion, and defer $460 million of the project costs, including the option for improvements in New Rochelle Yard and some contingencies and support costs, to a future date. The amendment would increase funding in the 2020–2024 program from $1.131 billion to $2.052 billion, or $920.8 million; $452 million for the project was in the 2015–2019 program. The entire budget for the project went up from $1.561 billion to $2.482 billion. The cost increase was due to bids that were received, increases in the price of construction materials and labor, additional scope required by Amtrak, including expanded power and communication upgrades and a fourth track, and limitations on labor support committed by Amtrak and track outages. Funding for the budget increase would be made using the $500 million in Amtrak funding, and the reallocation of funding from other projects in the Capital Program.[42]
A groundbreaking ceremony for Penn Station Access took place in the Bronx on December 9, 2022,
Existing service
New Haven Line service to Penn Station already existed in a very limited fashion, the Train to the Game, which ran between New Haven and NJ Transit's Secaucus Junction. Connecting service to Meadowlands station brought riders to Sunday 1 PM NFL games played by the New York Jets and New York Giants. This special service, operated using NJ Transit equipment, stopped at Penn Station, but that was only a secondary benefit of the operation.[51]
Phase Two
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/West_Side_NYCRR_38_St_singletrack_jeh.jpg/220px-West_Side_NYCRR_38_St_singletrack_jeh.jpg)
The second part of the project would bring Hudson Line trains into Penn Station using Amtrak's
Project details
Penn Station Access will add new tracks along the Hell Gate Line right-of-way, relocate, reconfigure, and add new interlockings, realign and install new
The MTA had the design consultant study the feasibility of building a tunnel connecting the Hunts Point station on PSA with the Hunts Point Avenue station on the IRT Pelham Line. It also had them study whether it made sense to reuse the historic Westchester Avenue station headhouse for the Hunts Point station.[53]: 22
Possible Harlem Line service
It has been proposed to have
References
- ^ An Assessment of the Transit Service Potential of Inactive Railroad Rights-of-way and Yards Final Report. New York City Department of City Planning. October 1991.
- from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2016 – via New York Times Archive.
- ^ a b "Penn Station Access Study". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Final Scoping Document: Major Investment Study/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Penn Station Access" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "Penn Station Access Study". Mta.info. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ a b Smith, Stephen Jacob (February 19, 2013). "West Side vs. East Side (Access): Upper West Side May Get Metro-North Stop". Observer.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ "Final Scoping Document. Major Investment Study / Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Penn Station Access" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "Metro-North PENN STATION ACCESS MIS/DEIS Comparative Screening Results Report (September 2002)" (PDF). mta.info. Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. September 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ "Penn Station Access Study". Mta.info. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ a b "Final Scoping Document: Major Investment Study / Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Penn Station Access" (PDF). Web.mta.info. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ a b "Penn Station Access Background". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2018. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Metro-North Penn Station Access" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ Rocchio, Patrick (November 10, 2011). "MTA may build four new Metro-North stations". Bronx Times Reporter. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ Beekman, Daniel (December 28, 2011). "New passenger rail service for the East Bronx gaining steam with the MTA bigwigs and boro leaders all aboard". New York Daily News. p. 29. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ a b "MTACC Quarterly Progress Report to CPOC Penn Station Access Project Overview December 12, 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 12, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Trapasso, Clare (October 2, 2012). "Petition for Metro-North station in Queens". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "Metro-North PENN STATION ACCESS MIS/DEIS Comparative Screening Results Report (September 2002)" (PDF). mta.info. Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. September 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ Honan, Katie (October 8, 2014). "Locals Pushing for Metro-North Stations in Queens". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "Metro-North PENN STATION ACCESS MIS/DEIS Final Scoping Document" (PDF). mta.info. Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. Edwards and Kelcey, Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "MTA 2015-2019 Capital Program, pages 152 and 225" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ "PSA: Shops & Yards". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ a b "Connecticut Presentation (2013)" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- ^ "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting 9/25/2017" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 25, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "MTA | news | Project to Build Bronx Metro-North Stations Advances". www.mta.info. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Castillo, Alfonso A. (January 22, 2019). "Metro-North riders will finally get Penn Station access". am New York. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ Spivack, Caroline (January 22, 2019). "MTA to build new Metro-North stations linking Bronx to Penn Station". Curbed NY. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ "Metro-North Railroad Committee Meeting" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2019. p. 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ Nessen, Stephen (January 22, 2019). "Amtrak, Metro-North Reach Deal on Bronx Expansion Plans". WNYC. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ Zambito, Thomas C. (January 22, 2019). "Penn Station Access Project gets green light, will open West Side to Westchester commuters for first time". The Journal News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- Bloomberg.com. Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ "MTA selects qualified bidders for Penn Station access project. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "MTA identifies firms qualified to bid to design and build Metro-North Penn Station Access Project". Mass Transit. February 12, 2020. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "4 New Metro-North Stations Coming to the Bronx as Part of Penn Station Access Project". NBC New York. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Campbell, Jon (May 13, 2021). "MTA moving ahead with Metro-North access to Penn Station, which could cut commute times". lohud.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Cruz, David (May 15, 2021). "After Yearlong Pause, NY Approved To Start Long-Awaited Metro-North Expansion Project In The Bronx". Gothamist. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ "Metro-North Penn Station Access Project Completes Environmental Review". CBS New York. September 28, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ "Penn Station Access". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ Goldiner, Dave (December 13, 2021). "Schumer cuts deal to 'surcharge' transit with 4 new Bronx stations and repaired LIRR tunnels". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Penn Station Access Design Build Staff Summary". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Penn Station Access Consultant Svcs. Staff Summary". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "MTA 2020-2024 Capital Program Amendment". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "4 New Metro-North Stations Break Ground in NYC. Here's When They'll Take You to Penn". NBC New York. December 9, 2022. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ Kramer, Marcia (December 9, 2022). "Metro-North Penn Station Access project breaks ground in the Bronx". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Governor Hochul Announces Groundbreaking for Metro-North Penn Station Access Project to Bring Four New Stations to the Bronx | Governor Kathy Hochul". www.governor.ny.gov. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Kaske, Michelle (January 30, 2023). "New Metro-North Rail Service to Penn Station Postponed by Seven Months". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Castillo, Alfonso A. (January 30, 2023). "MTA's next megaproject, $2.8 billion Penn Station Access, delayed". Newsday. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Brachfeld, Ben (January 30, 2023). "Dispute between MTA, Amtrak could delay Penn Access megaproject bringing Metro-North to west side". amNewYork. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "$1.6 billion secured for Penn Station Access Project". Mid Hudson News. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "Federal funding for Penn Station Access Project excites Westchester commuters". News 12 - Westchester. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "MNR Schedules". Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "Penn Station Access Proposed "Build" Alternative" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "Contract No. PS864: General Engineering Consultant Professional Design Services for Metro-North Railroad Penn Station Access Project Scope of Services" (PDF). pennstationaccess.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Deck over the railway" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
- ^ Anuta, Joe (November 2, 2015). "Green space or mass transit? A forgotten South Bronx rail line is suddenly the center of attention". Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
External links
- Project website
- Penn Station Access Infrastructure Project | Amtrak
- Penn Station Access Study at the Wayback Machine (archived May 22, 2018)