Amtrak, Duffy update status of NY Penn Station project

Amtrak officials and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy yesterday revealed the progress made so far on the New York Penn Station transformation project.

The status update included the selection of AECOM-led joint venture with LiRo-Hill to provide project management; the news that New Jersey Transit has signed on as a key partner on the project; Amtrak's discussions with prospective master developers about design proposals; and the start of early work on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities and the service optimization study with the Federal Railroad Administration.

“The excitement for this project continues to build with each step, and we are looking forward to continuing our momentum with more future milestones that will ultimately bring a world-class station in the heart of New York City," said Andy Byford, the project's special adviser.

In January, three teams were shortlisted for the master developer role: Penn Forward Now (Fengate); Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar); and Grand Penn Partners (Macquarie). The project schedule calls for the master developer to be selected in May and announced in June; preliminary design and NEPA activities to occur from summer 2026 through 2027; and construction to begin at 2027's end. 

In August 2025, Duffy, USDOT and Amtrak announced the project’s schedule and a $43 million federal grant to Amtrak to jumpstart the work, supporting project development and the solicitation of a master developer, as well as permitting and some preliminary design engineering work.