Infrastructure Tracker

Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation)

A full overhaul of the Western Hemisphere's busiest transit hub (600,000+ daily riders), consolidating station activity onto a single-level concourse with a new stone-and-bronze train hall and a new Eighth Avenue grand entrance. Madison Square Garden will remain in place — not relocated — and MSG and all railroads are planned to continue operating throughout construction. Architectural design is led by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (Vishaan Chakrabarti); USDOT and Amtrak have stated the project is planned to be built entirely under union labor agreements.

Agency: Amtrak / U.S. Department of Transportation Official site ↗
Total Budget: $7-8 billion, reported as a range rather than one exact figure. Funding mechanics are still in flux: an earlier $1.3 billion New York State commitment made under a 2023-era MTA-led plan was reportedly reallocated after the federal government took over the lead role in 2025, and the FY2026 NY State budget separately reallocated up to $1.2 billion originally earmarked for Penn Station toward the Interborough Express project instead.
Status: In design, pre-construction — Pre-Development Agreement phase runs through 2027; groundbreaking targeted by end of 2027
Location: Penn Station, Eighth Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, Manhattan, beneath Madison Square Garden

Budget Range: $7–8 billion
Daily Riders: 600,000+
Additional USDOT Commitment: $200 million
Targeted Groundbreaking: End of 2027

Why This Isn't in DOB's Live Data

This is a federally-led Amtrak/USDOT project, not subject to standard NYC Department of Buildings permitting the way private construction is — so it doesn't and won't appear in DOB Job Application Filings or DOB Permit Issuance, the two datasets the rest of this site is built on. That's why it's tracked here by hand instead of pulled live like everything else on Constructel NYC.

Who's Building It

2 contracts named in reporting, 5 firms including the owner. Each firm links to its own profile — every project it's on, and its DOB permit history where one exists under its name. Joint ventures are shown as reported, with each partner linked.

Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar International + Skanska joint venture)
Master developer / construction partner
Halmar International is also on Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway Program)
Skanska USA is also on Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway Program)
Source →
Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) — Vishaan Chakrabarti
Design architect — single-level concourse and new train hall
Source →

Phases

Click a phase for its full detail.

2 of 3 phases complete

Same Firms, Other Projects

Other tracked landmark projects, towers and conversions sharing at least one firm with Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation).

Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway Program)Landmark Infrastructure
Shared firms: Skanska USA, Halmar International
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2Landmark Infrastructure
Shared firms: Halmar International, Skanska USA

News & Announcements

PENN STATION UPDATE: U.S. DOT, Amtrak Announce Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar and Skanska) as Master Developer Team
U.S. Department of Transportation (official) · 2026-05-20
HISTORIC AGAIN: DOT, Amtrak and Penn Unveil Design for Overhaul of New York Penn Station
U.S. Department of Transportation / Amtrak (official) · 2026-06-08
Penn Station Renderings Reveal Design for $8B Reconstruction Beneath Madison Square Garden
Engineering News-Record · 2026-06

Frequently Asked

Who is building Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation)?: Firms named in sourced reporting: Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar International + Skanska joint venture) — Master developer / construction partner; Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) — Vishaan Chakrabarti — Design architect — single-level concourse and new train hall.
How much does Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation) cost?: $7-8 billion, reported as a range rather than one exact figure. Funding mechanics are still in flux: an earlier $1.3 billion New York State commitment made under a 2023-era MTA-led plan was reportedly reallocated after the federal government took over the lead role in 2025, and the FY2026 NY State budget separately reallocated up to $1.2 billion originally earmarked for Penn Station toward the Interborough Express project instead..
What is the status of Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation)?: In design, pre-construction — Pre-Development Agreement phase runs through 2027; groundbreaking targeted by end of 2027.
Who oversees Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation)?: Amtrak / U.S. Department of Transportation.
Where is Penn Station Reconstruction (New York Penn Station Transformation)?: Penn Station, Eighth Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, Manhattan, beneath Madison Square Garden