Penn Station on Tuesday received a $72 million federal grant for a sweeping renovation plan to boost amenities — and try to make it easier for commuters to navigate the New York City transit hub.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that he secured the grant from the Department of Transportation — money that will pay for an estimated two thirds of the major project to improve the Manhattan transit mecca.
The project is separate from the $17 billion “Gateway” tunnel plan seeking to add new tunnels for trains under the Hudson River.
“Renovating the overcrowded, cramped and confusing Penn Station will help usher New York, the LIRR and the region into an even brighter transit future.” Schumer told The Post of the planned station overhaul.
“We need to ensure more accessibility, including making it easier to navigate — a redesign that delivers for commuters from Long Island, the five boroughs and beyond,” he added.
The federal money will go toward adding a 30,000 square-foot public plaza above ground, with 18 new escalators and 11 elevators to the platforms in Penn Station, according to Schumer’s office.
The transit center will also see an increase in the number of street entrances from 12 to 20, with a new underground connection to 34th Street Herald Square, which services the B, D, F, M, N, R, Q and W city subway lines.
The grant will also help pay for new passenger amenities at Penn Station, including additional retail space.
As it looks to improve Penn Station, New York City might get additional help from the federal government through President-elect Donald Trump, who reportedly wants to make the transit hub and city subways “beautiful” again.
Trump spoke about this hope for the city’s transit infrastructure during a recent call with Gov. Kathy Hochul, sources have told The Post.
Hochul confirmed she spoke with Trump about improving Penn Station, the Second Avenue Subway project and the need for more federal dollars for the MTA, saying, “There’s no reason New Yorkers can’t enjoy a world-class system.
“We agree that these are important priorities,” she said of herself and President-elect Trump.
