Tired of cost overruns and mismanagement at MTA, President Trump took control of the long-delayed renovation of Penn Station, a key rail hub for Long Island commuters.
Citing “chronic inefficiency and waste by local officials,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Administration is committed to a project that reflects "America's greatness.”
Under Trump’s plan, oversight of the renovation will shift from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to Amtrak and private partners. The move marks a defining moment in the future of urban infrastructure and a direct rebuke of state leadership. “President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over,” the Transportation Secretary said in signaling a new era of accountability.
The move was welcomed by Governor Kathy Hochul, who has been under fire in her quest to generate new money for the MTA through congressional pricing in Manhattan and a payroll tax. She pushed for the arrangement in her meetings with Trump, claiming it would save New York taxpayers $1.3 billion. Currently estimated at $7 billion, the overhaul will reflect “classical architectural heritage," a hallmark of Trump-era design that prioritizes “dignity, permanence, and American identity,” according to preliminary plans.
Commuters have long dreaded the claustrophobic station for its low ceilings, lack of amenities, and dingy appearance. Trump’s reputation as a builder, having successfully taken over previously stalled projects such as the Wollman Rink and the Ferry Point golf links, provides hope to commuters that he can get the Penn job done.
“Long Island commuters have suffered long enough under the MTA, both in having to subsidize it and endure lousy facilities and service,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “Trump has a proven record as a man who gets things done. We’re hoping he can get us a new Penn Station.”
The MTA’s last major effort to benefit riders, the Grand Central Madison project, took decades and turned into one of the most expensive railway undertakings in U.S. history, with costs exceeding $11 billion. The authority was recently called to task for overspending for the new $7 million waiting shelters at the Mastic-Shirley Train Station and for its refusal to eliminate diesel trains on Suffolk’s three rail lines.