Gov. Paterson Emphasizes October
Deadline for Moynihan Station Plan

By Nichole Altmix

If plans and funding for Manhattan’s Moynihan project are not on track by the end of October, it may be scrapped once and for all, New York State Gov. David Paterson (D) said today at the New York Building Congress’ Construction Industry forum.

October marks the deadline Paterson gave Timothy Gilchrist, the state Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure, to report on the potential challenges and solutions of Moynihan Station. 

“I think we will be able to fund it, unless our economy totally collapses,” said Paterson. “I don’t want it to sound like I’m threatening to kill the proposal, but if we don’t meet the conditions set, we are not going to go forward.”

 The Governor emphasized a five-point plan, the conditions, to keep Moynihan afloat, which if implemented “will make this administration comfortable going forward with this project,” said Paterson.

First, Moynihan needs to be converted to a transportation plan.

Second, major projects such as New Jersey’s Access to the Region’s Core must work in tandem with Moynihan for better area project coordination.

“This is why we want the Port Authority [of New York and New Jersey] to take over the leadership in terms of construction of Moynihan Station and therefore with such major development occurring . . . there has to be unification and coordination,” Paterson said.

Making the operation more efficient is the third part of the plan. The Governor called for a unified system between Metropolitan Transit Authority, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey transit, who as of now “have nothing to do with each other,” he said.

The fourth step is to expand Moynihan Station to include more tracks and runways to increase the number of trains that can pass through the station.

Lastly, making “Moynihan Station the Gateway to New York and the engine that revitalizes the area around Penn Station and establishes a pathway for development for the far west side of New York,” is the overarching aim of the plan, explained the Paterson. 

“These are our goals, these are our principles, and we are not going to stray from them,” said Paterson. “We are going to work with our partners and try to make this work.”

Designs for Moynihan Station were first proposed in 1999, and after many delays, the project team expected construction to start in 2006 and finish by 2011 at the latest. After incurring even more delays, the project start date was scheduled for 2008, with a 2018 completion date. The plans have been pushed back yet again following the resignation of then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) in March 2008, who at the time was in the process of negotiating with project officials.

Since March, Madison Square Garden has declined to move to the James A. Farley Post Office, which was originally housing the entire project, including a renovated Penn Station.

Updated plans will be released following the end of October report. 

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