The $3.18 billion project to bring Metro-North service to Penn Station is now slated for 2030 completion, not 2027.
NEW YORK — The MTA announced this week that its massive Penn Station Access project will be delayed by three years, pushing the anticipated completion date from 2027 to 2030. Agency officials placed the blame for the significant setback squarely on Amtrak, citing failures in collaborative work required for the project.
The $3.18 billion initiative is set to bring Metro-North trains to Penn Station for the first time. The plan includes the construction of four new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx.
MTA officials stated Monday that Amtrak, which owns the Hell Gate Line tracks and infrastructure essential to the project, has not provided adequate track access or support for utility relocation.
“This delay is a direct result of Amtrak’s failure to meet its commitments,” an MTA spokesperson said in a statement. “They have not provided the necessary track outages or support for this critical regional project.”
Why This Project Matters
The Penn Station Access project is one of the region’s most anticipated transit upgrades. It is designed to route Metro-North New Haven Line trains over Amtrak’s Hell Gate Bridge and into Penn Station, serving new stations at Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, and Hunts Point.
For travelers, the project promises a “one-seat ride” from the Bronx and Westchester County directly to Manhattan’s West Side, projected to save some commuters up to 50 minutes per day. The delay also affects Amtrak’s own long-term plans for the Northeast Corridor, which rely on the upgraded Hell Gate Line infrastructure.
What’s Next
Amtrak, which is also managing its own major upgrades in the region, including the Gateway Program, has not yet issued a detailed public response to the MTA’s specific claims.
It remains unclear how the inter-agency dispute will be resolved or if the new 2030 timeline can be met without further complications.
The Penn Station Access project is delayed by three years because the MTA states Amtrak has failed to provide necessary track access and support for utility relocation along the Hell Gate Line.
The new estimated completion date for the Penn Station Access project is 2030, delayed from the original 2027 target.