Moynihan Station http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/ en Copyright 2010 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:34:46 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Tim Gilchrist to be appointed President of MSDC
Gilchrist_observer.JPGphoto credit: the Observer

Gov. David Paterson announced that he is recommending the appointment of Tim Gilchrist, his senior adviser for infrastructure and transportation, as the President of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation, the state entity under ESDC that is in charge of seeing through the Moynihan Station project. He will be replacing Robin Stout, in the position since early 2006.

Gilchrist is well qualified for the position. He played a critical role in securing $83 million in federal stimulus funding for the project back in February, and was instrumental in negotiating an MOU between the State and Amtrak. As a result of his work - and numerous other people's - the first phase of the project is now underway: the public comment period closed last Friday, a vote by the PACB is expected in the next few weeks, and construction could begin by the end of the year.

The Friends of Moynihan Station thank Robin Stout for his tireless work on the project and his persistent optimism. We wish him the best as he pursues other opportunities at ESDC.

Tim Gilchrist will begin in the new position in mid-July.

]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/06/tim_gilchrist_to_be_appointed.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/06/tim_gilchrist_to_be_appointed.html Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:34:46 -0500 Friends testify in support of Phase One future home of moynihan station2.jpgcredit: wallyg/flickr

Several member organizations of the Friends of Moynihan Station attended the Moynihan Station Development Corporation's public hearing last night, urging the agency to continue pursuing the project and particularly "Phase One," which is to say the widening and lengthening of the West End Concourse, two new entrances into the station through the corners of the Farley Post Office building, as well as less visible catenary and emergency-ventilation work.

- Regional Plan Association focused on the tangible benefits that even just Phase One would bring
- General Contractors Association emphasized the importance of starting construction soon and creating jobs
- Municipal Art Society encouraged ESDC to think beyond Phase One
- New York Landmarks Conservancy applauded the fact that this plan preserves the building's historic integrity
- Assemblymember Richard Gottfried would have preferred that Phase One went through the City's approval process but understands that time is of the essence. He urged that Phase Two go through ULURP.
]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/04/friends_testify_in_support_of.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/04/friends_testify_in_support_of.html Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:22:01 -0500 Public comment period has begun Phase One of Moynihan Station. (In layman's terms: Last Friday, the state agency in charge of Moynihan Station issued detailed documents of what it proposes to build as part of Phase One of the project.)

This step means that the public approvals process has officially begun! The Friends of Moynihan Station -- as a group and as individual organizations -- will be testifying at the April 28 hearing at the Farley Building. Please join us, to express your support for the project, and/or provide some constructive criticism of the plans. If you are not able to attend, you may send your comments in writing until May 28. All information is below.

Here are a few keys links:
- The Draft General Project Plan, which is a general overview of the project and its financing
- The Draft SEQRA Technical Memorandum, which includes detailed information about several aspects of the project, including its environmental impacts
- Yesterday's Notice of Public Hearing, published in the Daily News

The hearing will be held on Wednesday April 28, from 4pm to 8pm, at the Farley Post Office building, 380 West 33rd Street, Room 4500.
Please send written comments to ESDC, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, attn: Rebecca Pellegrini.

]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/03/public_comment_period_has_begu.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/03/public_comment_period_has_begu.html Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:20:07 -0500 What is Phase One? Penn Station Lower Level - West End Concourse
Phase One of the Moynihan Station project -- the phase that is now fully funded and that will begin construction before the end of the year, will include doubling the width and length of the West End Concourse (pictured above) so that it provides access to more platforms. Travelers coming in on platforms 3 to 6 will be able to head to the A/C/E subway, or exit to the street at Eighth Avenue -- through new entrances at the corners of the Farley building, in fact -- without walking through Penn Station. (The West End Concourse currently serves only platforms 7 to 11.)

(For an illustration of what this work means, or to get your bearings around this confusing station, check out these site plans and images.)

Phase One also includes some less visible infrastructure improvements including platform ventilation and catenary work.



]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/03/what_is_phase_one.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/03/what_is_phase_one.html Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:47:15 -0500 Paterson announces MOU with Amtrak; charges ESDC and PA with the project paterson-boardman.pngOn the heels of Tuesday's announcement that the Moynihan Station project was awarded the necessary funding to begin construction of Phase 1, Gov. David Paterson announced that the State of New York had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Amtrak. (A broad term sheet was signed last September.) It is not clear at this time what terms of agreement the MOU includes. More detailed contracts will be signed in months to come.

Gov. Paterson has also officially charged the Empire State Development Corporation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to see the project through. This involves coordinating the multiple agencies involved, negotiating a final agreement with Amtrak, and applying for federal funding. The Port Authority's board must now vote to approve taking on the project.
]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/02/paterson_announces_mou_with_am.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/02/paterson_announces_mou_with_am.html Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:34:00 -0500 Big News! Moynihan Station Receives Federal Funding Necessary to Start Construction Moynihanrender2.pngThe Moynihan Station project has just been awarded an $83.3 million federal grant that will allow the first phase of the project to move forward. This first phase includes:

- building two new entrances to Penn Station's platforms from West of Eighth Avenue through the corners of the Farley Building,
- doubling the length and width of the West End Concourse,
- providing 13 new "vertical access points" (escalators, elevators and stairs) to the platforms,
- doubling the width of the 33rd Street Connector between Penn Station and the West End Concourse, as well as
- other critical infrastructure improvements including platform ventilation and catenary work.
 
Now that funding has been lined up and design plans are in the final stages, construction should begin before the end of the year. The press statement from the Friends can be found here. ]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/02/big_news_moynihan_station_rece.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/02/big_news_moynihan_station_rece.html Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:15:01 -0500 Political trends for 2010: Build Moynihan Station New_York_Post_logo.pngThe best way for New York City to recover from the current economic slump? Build Moynihan Station!

In this New York Post op-ed, Julia Vitullo-Martin, director of the Center for Urban Innovation at Regional Plan Association, argues that City and State must join forces to see through a number of stalled development projects that will help the City get out of the current recession. The most important of these projects is Moynihan Station.

To access the story, click here (and scroll down). Full text on the jump.


]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/01/political_trends_for_2010_buil.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2010/01/political_trends_for_2010_buil.html Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:30:28 -0500 New York State applies for stimulus funding for first phase of Moynihan Station Moynihanrender2.png
(A design for the future entrances to Moynihan Station has not been specified;
this rough sketch was drawn up by Regional Plan Association for visualization purposes.)

The Moynihan Station Development Corporation submitted yesterday an application for a TIGER federal stimulus grant, in the amount of $98 million. (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants are intended to help pay for projects that will reduce carbon emissions and bolster environmental sustainability.)

The grant would help pay for the first phase of the Moynihan Station project, which includes:
- Doubling the width and length of the West End Concourse;
- Stairs and escalators from the West End Concourse to the 31st St and 33rd St corners of the Farley Building. In other words, there will be two street-level entrances into Penn Station from the Farley building, a major improvement over the current Eighth Avenue entrances, which are through the ACE subway station;
- Additional stairs and escalators from the West End Concourse to the platforms;
- Widening of the 33rd Street Concourse, including making it ADA compliant;
- Ventilation and catenary work.

Later phases of the project will include a new train hall in Farley for Amtrak and related development. Cost estimates have not been revised lately. As of last spring, they ranged anywhere from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion.


]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/09/new_york_state_applies_for_sti.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/09/new_york_state_applies_for_sti.html Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:09:48 -0500 Amtrak Agrees to Move Operations to Farley Farley_SOM_design_2006.jpgA major hurdle in the development of Moynihan Station was cleared over the weekend, when Amtrak announced its intention to relocate its operations to a new train hall in the Farley Building. Specifically, Gov. David Paterson, Senator Charles Schumer and Amtrak President Joe Boardman announced a general agreement on the basic terms and conditions for the redevelopment of the Farley Building into a new train station. The terms of the agreement will be finalized in the coming weeks and memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding.

This is all around good news. By moving to the historic Farley Post Office, Amtrak will gain a world-class flagship building for its busiest and most important station. All three transit agencies (NJ TRANSIT, MTA-LIRR and Amtrak) will benefit from a more efficient and spacious Moynihan Station complex, east and west of Eighth Avenue, with Amtrak relocated to Farley. Finally, the fact that Amtrak and the State of New York are working in partnership helps to clear the way for federal stimulus funding, which is necessary to see the project through.

The latest cost estimates are between $1.1 billion and $1.5 billion. Though the Port Authority, New York State, New York City and others have committed significant funding to the project, there remains a several hundred million dollar shortfall.

Amtrak Deal May Revive Moynihan Station, New York Times 9.13.09
Manhattan's Moynihan Amtrak Gets Go-Ahead, Newsday 9.13.09
Manhattan's all aboard Moynihan Station move, New York Post 9.14.09
Moynihan Station back on track, Daily News 9.13.09
Moynihan Station Pact Reached, Bloomberg News 9.13.09

The image above is Skidmore Owings and Merrill's 2006 rendering of the new train hall in Farley.

]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/09/amtrak_agrees_to_move_operatio.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/09/amtrak_agrees_to_move_operatio.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:55:23 -0500 NYT Editorial Sees Renewed Hope for Moynihan Station Thanks to available federal stimulus dollars and renewed attention to the project from Senator Charles Schumer, the Times editorial board expresses hope that the Farley Post Office can finally be converted into a new train hall as Senator Moynihan envisioned 15 years ago.

With a significant financial contribution from the Port Authority, $100 million (or more) from the federal stimulus bill, and the funding pledged by New York City, New York State and the federal government years ago, the first stage of the project -- a new train hall in Farley -- could finally move forward.

Full copy of the editorial on the jump.


]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/nyt_editorial_sees_renewed_hop.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/nyt_editorial_sees_renewed_hop.html Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:08:13 -0500 The Friends Ask Gov. Paterson to Announce his Support for Moynihan Station paterson79xx.jpg

In a letter to Governor David A. Paterson, the Friends of Moynihan Station endorsed Senator Charles Schumer's call to spend stimulus funds on Moynihan Station, and asked the Governor to publicly announce his support for the project and invite the Port Authority to act as a co-lead agency with the Empire State Development Corporation. If the $100 million that Senator Schumer requested from Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration is not spent on Moynihan, it will likely go to out-of-state projects.

A copy of the letter can be downloaded here.

]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/the_friends_ask_paterson_to_an.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/the_friends_ask_paterson_to_an.html Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:59:05 -0500 Sen. Schumer Calls for $100 Million of Stimulus Funds to be Spent on Moynihan New York Times today, Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate's Number 3 Democrat, requested that $100 million of the funds secured as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act be used to jump-start the Moynihan Station project. He also called for the Port Authority to become the lead agency in the project's planning and construction process, an idea first mentioned by Gov. David Paterson last fall.

Specifically, Sen. Schumer called for the $100 million to be spent out of one two pots: either the $1.3 billion allocated to Amtrak, or the $8 billion allocated to the Federal Railroad Administration for high-speed rail projects across the country. (It could also come out of the $21 billion allocated to New York State, though Schumer stayed away from that statement, for obvious conflict of interest reasons.)

Amtrak's system is in dire need of repairs and basic upgrades, and it is not clear whether the agency was planning on spending any of its allocation on Moynihan Station.

In the New York Times article, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward hinted at the fact that the costs of building Moynihan Station -- even just the Farley Post Office component of the project -- had increased in recent months, and that the Port Authority may not have the necessary funding to move forward without additional sources of revenue.
]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/sen_schumer_calls_for_100_mill.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2009/03/sen_schumer_calls_for_100_mill.html Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:19:25 -0500 NYTimes architecture critic calls for tearing down the Garden and Penn Station MSG and pennIn this weekend's New York Times, Nicolai Ouroussoff inventories the list of New York City buildings that ought to be torn down for being ugly and having a "traumatic effect on the city."

Coming in at the top of his list? Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. Ouroussoff calls Penn Station "one of the city's most dehumanizing spaces: a warren of cramped corridors and waiting areas buried under the monstrous drum of the Garden." Ouch.

After describing Gov. Paterson's efforts to transform Penn Station despite the Garden's decision not to move, Ouroussoff calls for a much more aggressive plan to build a contemporary version of the old Penn Station, with light and airy spaces and cavernous entry halls. "Any other plan is just fiddling around." A difficult sell in these times of over-stretched budgets, but nonetheless an entertaining article. ]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/09/nytimes_architecture_critic_ca.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/09/nytimes_architecture_critic_ca.html Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:08:16 -0500 Paterson makes a push for "Plan B" paterson_headshot.jpg
In a speech at the Building Congress today, Gov. David Paterson announced his full support for moving forward with "Plan B," i.e. a new Moynihan Station under Madison Square Garden's existing structure. The Governor described his vision for Moynihan as a transportation project first and foremost, instead of the real estate project that critics said it had become.

Paterson wants to increase the number of platforms and tracks at Moynihan, coordinate the planning of Moynihan and ARC, and improve overall transit service in the region.

Gov. Paterson called for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to take over the project. He also appointed his Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure Tim Gilchrist to lead the project at the governor's office.

The Friends of Moynihan Station are delighted to hear that this critical infrastructure, architecture and civic project is coming back to life.

Read the Crains article.
Read the New York Times article.
Read the Daily News article.
]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/09/paterson_makes_a_push_for_plan.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/09/paterson_makes_a_push_for_plan.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:11:27 -0500 69,240 people an hour at 32nd Street & Seventh Avenue entrance 32nd Street btw Sixth and Seventh.jpgTri-State Transportation Campaign reports that the 34th Street Partnership's annual pedestrian survey counted nearly 70,000 people entering and exiting Penn Station at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue. That's 1,154 people a minute!

Anyone who has witnessed the flood of commuters pouring out of Penn Station knows how urgently pedestrian improvements are needed. Tri-State has proposed pedestrianizing 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues (and changing the light cycle at 32nd Street and Seventh, which currently allots cars one minute, and pedestrians only 20 seconds.) Borough President Scott Stringer has suggested widening the sidewalks and striping bike and bus lanes on 33rd Street. Both of these suggestions are easy and low-cost and should be implemented now.

Neither of these improvements, however, will be enough to accommodate the 60% increase in ridership that NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak predict in the next two decades. As part of the Moynihan Station project, the City and the State must pursue a comprehensive pedestrian plan that includes, among other things:

  • Dedicating two traffic lanes on 34th Street to Bus Rapid Transit (a project that is currently in the works at NYC DOT and NYCT);
  • Reopening the Gimbel's Corridor, an underground corridor on 33rd Street between Penn Station and Herald Square;
  • Widening sidewalks on Seventh Avenue from Penn Station to Times Square.




]]> http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/07/69240_people_an_hour_at_32nd_s.html http://www.moynihanstation.org/newsite/2008/07/69240_people_an_hour_at_32nd_s.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:07 -0500