Ocasio-Cortez, Torres Lead NY and CT Democrats in Urging Amtrak to Launch the Penn Station Access Project by 2027

Letter follows reports that the $2.9 billion project could be delayed an additional 3 years until 2030

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) led members of New York and Connecticut’s Democratic congressional delegation in writing to Amtrak President Roger Harris urging him to take action to ensure that Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North can deliver the Penn Station Access project on time.

“We know that delivering a construction project of this magnitude is complex, especially when it means rebuilding century-old Northeast Corridor infrastructure while maintaining intercity service, but progress has been too slow,” the lawmakers wrote. “Amtrak must take decisive action to mitigate these delays and ensure that the project can accelerate its work and make up for lost time. The MTA has outlined a plan to get the project back on track and to enable service to begin by the end of 2027. We strongly support this plan and urge Amtrak to work together with the MTA to achieve it and deliver for our constituents.”

The Penn Station Access project is a critical transportation project for the entire New York region. In the East Bronx, it will shorten commute times by up to 50 minutes each way. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in March 2027, but according to transit officials in New York City, the completion of new rail stations in the Bronx could be delayed by three years until 2030, because of slowed progress by Amtrak. 

The full letter is available here.

When completed, the Penn Station Access project could add new transit options for 500,000 Bronx residents who live within a mile of the new stations, and provide access to 200,000 jobs within walking distance of the new stations.

In addition to Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Torres, the following members joined in signing: Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jim Himes (CT-04), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), George Latimer (NY-16), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). 

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