Federal selection of master developer for Penn Station overhaul

A master developer has been selected to lead the long-awaited, multi-billion-dollar transformation of New York’s Penn Station, a project now under federal control that will proceed without relocating the Madison Square Garden arena.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak announced Wednesday they have chosen Penn Transformation Partners to oversee the redesign and reconstruction of the nation’s busiest rail hub. The consortium includes construction firms Halmar International and Skanska. Officials stated that a detailed construction design will be released in the coming months, with groundbreaking expected by the end of 2027.

The selected plan, which federal officials have pledged $8 billion to support, calls for a significant aesthetic and functional overhaul. Key features include constructing a grand entrance on Eighth Avenue, replacing cramped walkways with open concourses, and upgrading retail spaces. The exterior of Madison Square Garden, which sits directly above the station, will be given a classical look. The redesign also aims to expand track capacity to allow for limited through-running of trains between New Jersey and Long Island, a change intended to improve...