MTA Chair Rejects Amtrak’s Penn Station Partnership, Citing Corporate Influence and Trump-Era Oversight
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MTA Chair Janno Lieber has refused Amtrak’s invitation to join the Penn Station reconstruction as a full partner, raising alarms about undemocratic federal oversight, corporate profiteering, and the lingering influence of the Trump administration.
On Monday, MTA Chair Janno Lieber sent a letter to Amtrak adviser Andy Byford, firmly rejecting an offer for the public transit agency to become a 'fully involved' partner in the Penn Station redevelopment—a project still tainted by Trump-era federal oversight. Lieber criticized the federal government’s 'bizarre' control over the project, warning of potential impropriety and lack of transparency that often accompanies top-down, undemocratic decision-making.
Lieber emphasized that the Long Island Rail Road and MTA subways, which serve two-thirds of Penn Station’s daily riders, should have a decisive voice in the project. The LIRR’s prepaid lease, valid until 2186, gives the MTA approval rights over any construction affecting the northern half of the station. Lieber cautioned that changes could disrupt vital train operations or compromise the structural integrity of public assets, all for the benefit of private interests.
Amtrak, which seized oversight after President Trump ousted the MTA last year, has already chosen a 'master developer'—a move that raises concerns about cronyism and corporate favoritism. The proposed redesign, with its grandiose entrances and luxury finishes, appears more focused on aesthetics and real estate profits than on serving working-class commuters. Byford claimed the plan would not impact the Seventh Avenue entrance and 33rd Street concourse, improvements made under Lieber’s leadership to benefit everyday New Yorkers.
'We are committed to improving the entirety of Penn Station for New Yorkers, and it's unfortunate MTA does not seem to share that approach,' Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said, ignoring the MTA’s legitimate concerns about public accountability and equity. Amtrak insists the invitation remains open, but the process reeks of exclusion and backroom deals.
Lieber also questioned the absence of a transparent cost estimate or funding source, the potential windfall for billionaire Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan, and the selection of construction firm Halmar, whose executives are closely tied to the Trump administration. He demanded clarity on what would happen if federal interest in the project fades, leaving New Yorkers to foot the bill.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has floated federal funding and loans totaling $7-8 billion, but with Amtrak pushing to start construction by 2027, the project risks becoming another example of public resources funneled to private interests under the guise of infrastructure improvement.