Today, MAS President Vin Cipolla released a statement (below) regarding yesterday’s announcement by Senator Charles E. Schumer, Governor David A. Paterson and Amtrak president Joseph H. Boardman that an agreement has been made on the future development of Moynihan Station.

“After a decade of starts and stops, the future looks brighter for Moynihan Station. The agreement reached by Amtrak, Governor Paterson and Senator Schumer is a critical step towards expanding and improving the nation’s busiest train station.

The plans include moving many of Amtrak’s services into a new train hall that will be built in the James A. Farley Post Office, just across the street from Penn Station. While design details have not been released, the agreement furthers Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s vision for a grand work of civic architecture that stands as an inspiring gateway to New York City. With Amtrak as the primary tenant of the new hall, the station can be designed to support the needs of its intercity rail travelers. According to Amtrak, roughly 25% of the nation’s Amtrak passengers pass through Penn Station at some point on their journey.

President Obama has made improving our nation’s public transportation infrastructure a high priority. MAS urges the federal government to invest in Moynihan Station as a first step to enhancing rail lines and service on the Northeast Corridor. By dedicating federal funds to this project we can create near-term jobs while enhancing our mass transit system for the long term. Furthermore, Moynihan Station will be a catalyst for development on the Far West Side and will increase capacity and improve the experience for the nearly 500,000 people who move through Penn Station every day.”

For more information on Moynihan Station, please visit our website, www.newpennstation.org.