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The latest showdown between feds and local officials appears to be Penn Station
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All right, the Department of Transportation announcing it's taking control of the overhaul
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of the transit hub. Fox 5's Jessica Formosa was live at Penn with details and reactions tonight. Jess
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Steven and Natasha, that's right. Both Governor Hochul and the MTA say they are glad that the
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federal government, in this case the USDOT, is stepping in. However, the MTA says it wants a seat
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at the table. The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing Thursday the MTA
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is no longer handling renovations at Penn Station. Instead, the federal government will
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The Federal Railroad Administration says Amtrak, backed by USDOT, will spearhead the $7 billion
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reconstruction project. I think that this is a positive move. According to Duffy, the decision
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will save taxpayers approximately $120 million, saying, quote, the MTA's history of inefficiency
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Waste and mismanagement also meant that a new approach is needed. By putting taxpayers first, we're ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to create a transit hub all Americans can take pride in
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Amtrak owns the busy hub. Therefore, the feds believe it's the right fit to execute a project that's been in the works for years
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Thomas Wright is the president and CEO of the Regional Plan Association
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He been a vocal proponent of the need for a comprehensive overhaul of Penn Station the owner is taking back the steering wheel and saying I going to drive the car now And it appropriate for Amtrak to play that role
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They own the station. They should be the one making these decisions
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The federal government will be paying for a lot of this and providing financing and has
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the ability to do that. Governor Hochul says the takeover is a victory, something she's been insisting should happen
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In a statement, she writes, In multiple meetings with President Trump, I requested that the federal government fund the long overdue overhaul of Penn Station
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Clearly, that effort has been successful. She went on to say, The use of federal funds will save New York taxpayers $1.3 billion that would have otherwise been necessary for this project
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But while MTA Chair and CEO Jana Lieber says he's glad the federal government will now focus on the project
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He expects to have a seat at the table, saying in part, quote, as the major leaseholder in the station, we expect to participate in the administration's and Amtrak's effort to ensure future plans meet the needs of everyone who uses it
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And Duffy also saying tonight that they are open to working with the private sector on this project
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Now, remember, this decision comes as the MTA and the federal government are battling in court over whether or not to stop congestion pricing
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That's the latest I have from outside of Penn Station. I'm Jessica Formoso, Fox 5 News
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Steve? All right. Thanks, Jess
