Gov. Cuomo's Plan Would Expand Penn Station Tracks by 40%

A new plan to add significant space for new tracks and platforms at Penn Station would require demolishing a whole city block in Manhattan.

1 minute read

January 7, 2020, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York City Transit Station

Michael715 / Shutterstock

"Pennsylvania Station, the busiest rail station in the Western Hemisphere, would add eight tracks to its 21-track layout," reports Christina Goldbaum. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the expansion plan on Monday this week.

"The new tracks would allow Penn Station to accommodate an additional 175,000 riders to the 650,000 daily travelers who flow through the station now, Mr. Cuomo said during a speech to a business group."

As noted in the article, the new expansion plan is only a component in a larger suite of planned changes intended to improve both transit service in and out of the station as well as the user experience at the station.

The article includes statements from transit advocates in the city expressing both support and skepticism about the plan. Missing from the article is a take that made the rounds on Twitter yesterday that more tracks and platform space is not the problem ailing transit service at Penn Station.

Monday, January 6, 2020 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

1 hour ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

3 hours ago - UNM News

Bird's eye view of half-circle suburban street with large homes.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City

If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

5 hours ago - Investopedia