NEW YORK — Thursday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board will vote on work at New York’s Pennsylvania Station and Long Island’s Elmont Station following discussion of both projects at committee meetings on Monday.
The $9.5 million contract to oversee the master plan for Penn Station, the nation’s busiest passenger terminal, is set to go to FX Collaborative/WSP Joint Venture. The contract will cover an in-depth functional and operational assessment of conversion of the Farley Post Office Building into the Moynihan Train Hall, a new Long Island Rail Road entrance and transformation of the LIRR Concourse, and a new eight-track Penn Station South terminal. The contract only concerns buildings above the rail lines, according to MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan.
The contract is for six months with an additional six-month option. Representatives from the MTA, NJ Transit, and the Long Island Rail Road will able to make decisions, with equal cost-sharing after an agreement has been finalized. The Empire State Development Corporation and representatives of the New York State Executive Chamber and the City of New York will provide review and input.
The Long Island Rail Road’s $65-million Elmont Station, the first new full-time station for the commuter operator since 1976, should begin service in 2021. The project, announced last year, will serve a new arena for the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders [see “New Long Island rail Road station planned for Belmont Park,” Trains News Wire, July 9, 2019]. The station with two 12-car platforms is scheduled to be in service by October of next year, with completion by the end of 2022. Arena developer Oak View Group will pay the LIRR’s costs in a previously arranged agreements.
Thursday’s vote will address a formal memorandum of understanding between the railroad and the developer, necessary for awarding the contract.
I repeat what I’ve said before: The proposed Elmont station is a costly MTA wet-dream, to be located in an inaccessible portion of Floral Park/Bellerose, and will downgrade – or destroy – a beautiful residential area adjacent to where I grew up 70 years ago.
I read in the newspaper that NJ Transit Rail will not be able to use the new tracks.