The $ 1.6 billion project that will replace Manhattan’s narrow, dark Penn Station with a light-filled train room is scheduled to end this week, with the first trains to be deployed on New Year’s Day.
The new 255,000-square-foot station is named after U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat who defended the project and died in 2003. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat, announced Sunday that the Moynihan train hall will be completed. on Thursday’s weather and budget despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Work began in 2017 to transform the Farley Post Office landmark into a new station next to the old Penn Station. It will be used by Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak passengers.
“This monumental achievement is a shot of hope in coming out of one of the darkest periods in our history and sending a clear message to the world that, although we suffered greatly as a result of this health crisis once a century, the pandemic did not stop us from dreaming on a large scale and building for the future, “Cuomo said in a statement.