New concourse serves few


To the Editor:

Recent leaking from pipes above the $300 million Long Island Rail Road West End Corridor which resulted in puddles all over the floor and brown stains on the ceiling is just the latest bad news. Still missing from the June 2017 opening of this facility eleven months later is a seating area and rest rooms. (Was the MTA & LIRR afraid of the homeless invading this new facility?) There are still only three new ticket vending machines which do not accept cash. Governor Cuomo proudly proclaiming opening of the new West End Penn Station Concourse in June 2017 continues to be a band aid to bigger problems. In 1994, the estimated cost for the new Moynihan Amtrak Station to be built at the old 33rd Street Farley Post Office site was $350 million. Completion was forecast, including a new Penn Station West End Concourse, by 1999. Fast forward 24 years later, Phase one for the new West End Penn Station Concourse cost $300 million. Phase two for the actual new Amtrak Station will be $1.6 billion! None of these improvements will add any new platforms and tracks. This is necessary to increase rush hour capacity for adding any new Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit or future Metro North service. No funds under this project will bring antiquated tracks, signals, power and interlockings, which contribute to increased service disruptions, back to a state of good repair. A new concourse continues to serve a minority of riders. It has done little to date for those still stuck waiting for canceled or late trains that are unable to access Penn Station.

Larry Penner

(Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office).

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