Amtrak is beginning work for an accessibility improvement project at the 7th Avenue and 32nd Street entrance to New York Penn Station.
The project will add an elevator to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and ease the path of travel for passengers who have wheeled luggage, strollers and other heavy items. Work is also being done to widen this entrance and replace the stairs and the two existing escalators with three transit-grade escalators. Renderings of the new entranceway can be viewed in the Amtrak Media Center.
“New York Penn Station is the front door to New York City, and by making the entrance more modern and accessible, customers can feel confident knowing Amtrak is rolling out the welcome mat,” said Amtrak Vice President of Stations, Facilities, Properties and Accessibility Dr. David Handera. “The work on the 7th Avenue and 32nd Street Entrance reflects Amtrak’s commitment to accessibility for all, the customer experience and continuous improvement at the station.”
This new entrance design is only possible because of a public-private partnership with Vornado Realty Trust who is building a new skylit canopy above the entrance and integrating it with a renovated 7th Avenue Plaza and Penn 2 office building expansion above. Work is expected to take place over the next 18 months.
Travelers wishing to access the station from the 7th Avenue side during this construction period have access via the escalators and elevator at the New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) entrance on 31st Street and 7th Avenue. This project comes on the heels of recent milestones for the station’s expansion and reconstruction, continuing the momentum of improving the world’s busiest train station and its surrounding area. Both projects will ensure all entrances to the station are fully accessible.
Over the last five years, Amtrak has made more than $300 million in capital improvement investments at New York Penn Station, in addition to its investment in Moynihan Train Hall. This includes the Art at Amtrak public art program, a new ticketed waiting area for NJ Transit and Amtrak passengers, new wayfinding and signage throughout the facility, improved accessibility and State-of-Good-Repair improvements throughout to enhance the reliability of service.
