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

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.

LOL

Penn Station doesn't need more tracks or platforms

1. Get the commuter rails to stop squabbling

2. Through-running

Penn Station = 11 island platforms, 21 tracks, 1200 trains/day

Tokyo Station = 10 island platforms, 20 tracks, 3000 trains/day https://t.co/Xq8WCNt9FF

— 20 8-car trains per hour, 19 hours/day, every day (@HeadwaysMatter) January 6, 2020

FULL STORY: Can Penn Station Handle 175,000 More Riders? Cuomo Thinks So

Monday, January 6, 2020 in The New York Times

Infrastructure Transportation New York New York City Penn Station Transit Planning Transit Station Transit Service Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Transportation Planning Planning View More

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