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Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

June 9, 2026
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation

The U.S. Department of Transportation took control of Penn Station’s transformation in April 2025, and Secretary Sean Duffy provided Amtrak with $43 million in federal grant funding to jumpstart an aggressive schedule.

Credit:

Amtrak

3 min to read


  • The redesign of Penn Station aims to transform it into a more efficient and functional transit hub.
  • The renovation will improve conditions for over 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
  • The project spans from the station's tracks to street level, ensuring a cleaner and more organized space.

*Summarized by AI

US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, Special Advisor to the Amtrak Board Andy Byford, and Penn Transformation Partners (PTP) unveiled the design renderings for the redevelopment of New York Penn Station. PTP — a joint venture led by Halmar and Skanska — will serve as the master developer for the project.

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors. PTP’s vision will make the station safer, more spacious, and better connected, while elevating it into a modern civic landmark.

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Madison Square Garden will remain in place, and throughout construction, the arena and all railroads will continue to operate. Breaking ground by the end of 2027, the transformation of Penn Station will be 100% union-built, creating thousands of jobs and supporting local and regional economic activity.

The Penn Station Transformation

The U.S. Department of Transportation took control of Penn Station’s transformation in April 2025, and Secretary Sean Duffy provided Amtrak with $43 million in federal grant funding to jumpstart an aggressive schedule.

In May 2026, Penn Transformation Partners was selected as the master developer, and the Department invested an additional $200 million to support critical design and permitting work.

The completed station will transform the commuter and visitor experience at Penn Station with a design that reduces congestion, eliminates dead ends, improves visibility, and expands waiting areas evenly throughout the Station.

Once completed, the visitor experience at Penn Station will be dramatically improved in every way, whether you’re a New Jersey or Long Island resident commuting to work daily, a fan heading to Madison Square Garden, an Amtrak traveler visiting the city for the first time, or simply a neighbor wanting a safer, more pleasant pedestrian experience around Penn Station, officials said.

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Amtrak New York Penn Station rendering with slight view of Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden will remain in place, and throughout construction, the arena and all railroads will continue to operate.

Credit:

Amtrak


Benefits of the Renewed Penn Station

The single-level, ADA-compliant concourse of stone and bronze with soaring ceilings will consolidate all public activity on a single level above the platforms. It will feature best-in-class amenities, bars and restaurants, shops, and customer services on one clear, accessible level.

Specifically, the transformation of New York Penn Station will:

  • Construct a grand entrance on Eighth Avenue to a new train hall.
  • Replace cramped, decrepit walkways with open, beautiful concourses.
  • Expand track capacity, including the introduction of at least limited through-running on the regional rail network.
  • Enable new retail, better wayfinding, and other passenger-experience improvements, all while maintaining the iconic Madison Square Garden with a new cladding that preserves its classic look.
  • Improve the station’s existing subterranean structure.

“We named this project Penn Station Transformation for the exact reason depicted in these renderings; a world-class, beautiful, and modern train station is coming to New York City,” said Byford. “With the continued support of the President and USDOT, and the expertise of Halmar, Skanska, and the rest of our partners, we are continuing to drive momentum and meet more milestones to get shovels in the ground next year and turn these renderings into reality.”

Quick Answers

The purpose of the Penn Station redesign is to create a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for commuters and visitors.

*Summarized by AI

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