Penn Station’s long-promised makeover is taking on a distinctly Trump-era aesthetic complete with gold detailing, soaring classical architecture and even a presidential seal bearing Donald Trump’s name etched into marble, according to newly leaked internal plans for the overhaul of the nation’s busiest rail hub.
Architectural renderings and engineering documents obtained by Gothamist show a dramatic reimagining of the Midtown transit complex — which for decades was a dim eyesore — with cavernous ceilings, monumental staircases, brass-toned railings and massive columns meant to evoke the grandeur of the original Beaux Arts Penn Station demolished in the 1960s.
But one detail is already likely to ignite some controversy.
Near a planned entrance on Eighth Avenue, the designs include a presidential seal alongside the words “President Donald J. Trump” carved into a stone wall inside the station. The feature appears near escalators leading into a new light-filled concourse where the Theater at Madison Square Garden currently stands.
The federal government seized control of the Penn Station overhaul from the MTA last year, placing Amtrak in charge of the reconstruction effort. Trump has since pushed to accelerate the project and directed that work begin before the end of 2027.
Last week, the administration pledged $8 billion to rebuild the station, sidelining the MTA due to what federal officials cite as a history of mismanagement and delays.
The winning proposal was submitted by Penn Transformation Partners — a consortium that includes Vornado Realty Trust, construction firms Halmar and Skanska, and a roster of architects and engineers. Vornado Realty Trust, one of the consortium’s major players, is led by Steve Roth, a longtime Trump ally. Halmar executive Peter Cipriano also previously served as an adviser at the US Department of Transportation during Trump’s first term.
The group was selected last week by Amtrak and the US Department of Transportation as the station’s master developer after a bidding process criticized by New York officials for its secrecy.
Documents indicate Amtrak requested a “classical look” for the station, prompting revisions to earlier concepts unveiled in 2023. The updated plans now feature a giant gold clock suspended from the ceiling of the central train hall, similar to what’s now on view at Moynihan Train Hall.
The renderings also show a vast increase in natural light, one of the biggest complaints commuters have had about Penn Station for decades.
According to project documents, only about 3,400 square feet of the current station receive daylight. The overhaul would increase that figure to more than 55,000 square feet through the addition of massive glass entrances, expanded ceiling heights and new windows carved into the block surrounding Madison Square Garden.
One of the most sweeping changes would come on Eighth Avenue, where the Theater at MSG would need to be demolished to make way for a towering new entrance hall.
Plans also call for another entrance on West 31st Street and new windows cut into the existing taxiway between the Garden and neighboring buildings.
Inside, the station would look almost unrecognizable. Ceilings in some areas would rise by as much as 50 feet. The cramped 32nd Street corridor would gain an additional 20 feet of height. Long wooden benches inspired by the original Penn Station would replace the sparse seating that has frustrated commuters at newer transit hubs like Moynihan Train Hall and Grand Central Madison.
The proposal also attempts to prepare Penn Station for future rail expansion tied to the Gateway tunnel project beneath the Hudson River, expected to open around 2035.
Amtrak said the redesign would allow for limited “through-running,” enabling NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains to continue through Penn rather than terminating there.
Critics have long argued Penn’s narrow platforms make through-running dangerous during rush hour, particularly because Madison Square Garden’s structural columns eat into passenger space. But internal plans reviewed by Gothamist show plans to remove some columns and add new access points to relieve crowding.
The overhaul would also require a substantial acquisition of property from Madison Square Garden and CEO James Dolan.
Documents indicate the federal government would need to purchase the Theater at MSG, portions of the arena façade, signage, sidewalks along 31st and 33rd streets and loading zones currently used for deliveries.
Trump himself has denied proposing the change, while Gov. Kathy Hochul has flatly rejected the idea. Federal officials are refusing to discuss the leaked plans publicly.
Amtrak said it is now focused on securing permits and finalizing contracts before construction begins.
