Andy Byford on Penn Station’s ‘transformation’

Andy Byford, the former president of the New York City Transit Authority better known as New York City’s “Train Daddy,” has a new job as special advisor to the Amtrak Board of Directors for the redevelopment of New York Penn Station. That is welcome news to advocates who are calling for a bold reconstruction of the transit hub that harks back to the grandeur of the original Penn Station, which fell to the wrecking ball in 1963, only to be replaced by the much-maligned underground station that is today home to Amtrak, NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road. 

Byford has promised to engage all the stakeholders involved – including James Dolan, owner of Madison Square Garden, the legendary arena that now sits on top of the station, as well as Steve Roth, CEO of Vornado, the developer that owns several properties around the transit hub that were once marked for demolition to make way for new construction, until a market downturn halted those plans. 

Byford and Amtrak were given the task of redeveloping the station, which the railroad owns, taking over from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which had an earlier proposal that advocates have mostly rejected for its lack of inspiration. Several bolder proposals for redeveloping the station have been proposed by architects who have coordinated with advocates – some of which would relocate MSG and some of which would have it stay put. Byford has pledged to hear out all sides, including the community surrounding the station. 

He has even said he would consider a through-running redesign, a reconfiguration that would allow trains to enter and leave the station by passing through, rather than backing out of the transit hub as they do now. So far, though, the railroads have not supported such a redesign; they instead favor adding more tracks to the south of the existing station to increase its capacity.

City & State caught up with Byford in Hell’s Kitchen at an event hosted by Sam Turvey, chair of ReThinkNYC, one of the advocacy groups leading the charge for a more visionary rebuild of the station. Byford, in his first interview since taking on the redevelopment in May, discussed his excitement for the project, how he’s already started developing partnerships with all stakeholders and his vision for what will emerge once he’s done with Penn Station. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your reaction when you learned Amtrak was placed in charge of the Penn Station redevelopment?

I said to my chairman, “I want that job.”

Why take on such a complex and challenging project, which has had several proposals thrown at it by advocates who want to see the transit hub replaced with a station that harks back to the grandeur of the original that was razed in 1963?

It's something of immense importance to New Yorkers, to New York City, the state and the U.S., and it's my kind of challenge. Everyone says it's impossible. Everyone says, “You know, you're crazy!” That is exactly my kind of challenge. So I said, “I want that job,” and here I am.

What are you envisioning in terms of this redevelopment? 

That we will deliver a Penn Station that is transformed in every aspect, top to bottom. 

Does it look any better now compared to how you left it? The Long Island Rail Road has a new concourse underneath 33rd Street and there have been other improvements. 

It does. There's no question. The MTA has done great work on the 33rd Street corridor. I remember how it used to be with the barrel roof. There's lots of work being done on the waiting areas, that's been done on the signage, but it's still sub-optimal. It's not what I think New Yorkers need, what they deserve, what they expect. 

Can you elaborate on what can be done?

So the project I inherited was New York Penn Station’s “reconstruction.” I think that undersells the ambition of what we should achieve. It's got to be transformation, which means transformation and excellence in every aspect, not just the bricks and mortar, but the look and feel of the place, the logistics, the operation, the customer service … Irrespective of what the project looks like, the scheme, which one we choose – the jury is still out on that, irrespective of where that is, this has got to be a world-class facility. 

Advocates for rebuilding the station to its former glory also are pushing for a “through-running” redesign. Will that be considered in your transformation of  the station?

Well, I'm on record as saying through-running should absolutely be looked at. There will be an independent review that will be undertaken by the Federal Railroad Administration and whosoever they contract. I believe that through-running should be part of the mix. 

What will be the difference with Amtrak now leading this project, instead of the MTA? 

I think it's just important that there's clarity on who is in the lead, which doesn't mean that the other agencies aren't involved. Far from it. We need to have a partnership approach in order to make this thing work. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has made it very clear that he wants clarity on this, and Amtrak has been put in charge, and I'm honored to be leading this project. 

Speaking of Duffy, do you have a relationship with him? 

I do. Ultimately, I guess, in a way, he's my boss. I have a dual reporting, both through the Amtrak board and the Amtrak president, but also the dual reporting line through the deputy secretary to the secretary. This is a project of super-importance to the Trump administration, and I was honored to be asked to do it. 

What are you going to do if Andrew Cuomo is mayor?

I'm not going to predict the outcome of the mayoral election. That's for New Yorkers to decide.

How about the owner of Madison Square Garden? Do you anticipate a good working relationship with James Dolan? Do you see any possibility of negotiating the relocation of Madison Square Garden? 

Well, I have met Mr. Dolan. I met him the same day that I did a tour of MSG with Sec. Duffy, and I immediately felt I had a good relationship with him. He was very welcoming, and he clearly is very proud of his facility. I've been to MSG lots of times. I've seen concerts there, I've seen basketball there and I've seen hockey there. So I think he is one of many very key partners in this job, one of the many people, myriad people, that I've spoken with and one of the many partners that we will have to involve as this plan emerges. 

How disappointed were you to learn about the loss of the Hotel Pennsylvania? What is your and Amtrak’s relationship like with Vornado, the developer that owns the site? 

On a purely personal basis, I was sad to see the Hotel Pennsylvania go because there's something truly grand when you emerge onto Seventh Avenue to look at that march of huge brick structures. To me, that in many ways is the epitome of Midtown New York. The New York as it was … you've got that series (of buildings) including the Stewart Hotel, that series of very large great buildings. So I was sad to see it go. There's no question. But having said that, you know, what's done is done.

I have met with Steve Roth, the CEO of Vornado. So he is someone else I made an early point of meeting with. My dance card is full of meetings of people I need to meet, and a lot of them I already have, but Steve was very gracious. He gave me a good reception. He talks about the issues, and he talks about some of his visions for the future. 

Last question: is there a timeline? 

That will become apparent.