Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul

“New Yorkers have deserved a better Penn Station for over 60 years. The busiest transit hub in the greatest city in the world should provide a fitting welcome for daily commuters and visitors from around the globe with a space that is functional, beautiful, and worthy of New York.

“From the day I took office, I made reimagining Penn Station a priority. While Penn is a federal asset, New York spent years trying to move this project forward, only to face significant federal bureaucratic hurdles at nearly every step. Last year, I took my case directly to the White House to cut through red tape and secure full federal funding for delivery of this project, saving New York taxpayers over $1 billion and accelerating this long overdue transformation.

“Today’s announcement selecting a master developer is another important step in the Penn reconstruction process, and I plan to thoroughly review the proposal in the weeks ahead. To be successful, this project must accomplish two things: dramatically improve the experience for every rider who passes through Penn Station, from the A train to the Acela, while protecting the record performance of the LIRR and ensuring the costs are not borne by New York commuters or taxpayers. I will accept nothing less.”