New York Group’s plan for fixing Penn Station: Rebuild, update and modernize Charles McKim’s original masterpiece

When it comes to updating Penn Station, Rebuild Penn Station, a project of the National Civic Arts Society, Chairman Samuel Turvey is advocating for the restoration of the original McKim, Mead and White railroad station as a solution to the present-day transit hub.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get this right—New York demands a reimagined station to improve the lives of the 600,000 plus commuters and tourists who use Penn Station daily," Turvey said.

On a recent segment of public television's MetroFocus, host Rafael Pi Roman questioned Turvey and architect Richard Cameron on the feasibility of Penn Station's return to greatness.

"There is a precedent for historic restoration happening around the world," said Cameron, a member of Rebuild Penn Station's team.

But this is not just your father's train station. Rebuild Penn Station's plan calls for a massive modernization of infrastructure with the removal of redundant tracks and expansion of platforms to ease congestion—a concept first suggested by the New York-based transportation design firm, ReThinkNYC.

The rebuilding and reconstruction of a thoroughly modern transportation facility with a nod to the past is a daunting task in the current political climate, according to Rebuild Penn Station.

"[New York] Governor [Andrew] Cuomo has done more than anyone to drive improvements, and we're grateful—he needs to see that our plan is a full solution that deals with infrastructure, economic development, and restoration of a great civic space,” Turvey said. “We believe he'll see our vision."