Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’d reluctantly consider renaming Penn Station for President Donald Trump — as long as the money's right.
The Trump administration announced earlier this month that federal officials were kicking the MTA off the station rehab project and taking over themselves. That would mean Amtrak and federal transportation officials would lead the $7 billion reconstruction of Penn Station, and save the state $1.3 billion it was preparing to contribute to the project, according to Hochul.
She was asked about renaming Penn Station after Trump during a press briefing late Friday night on the state budget. .
“If he puts $7 billion into it? Who knows,” Hochul told reporters Friday. ”It would not be my favorite thing to call it, but it would save me $1.3 billion that I’m not planning to spend, to manage my other costs.”
She also threw a little sarcasm Trump’s way.
“I expect to see immediate progress given how efficiency is so important to you,” she said addressing the president. “Maybe Elon Musk can get in charge of it and get it done really fast.”
Federal officials earlier this month accused the MTA of mismanagement.
“President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in a statement.“New York City deserves a Penn Station that reflects America’s greatness and is safe and clean.”
Duffy is locked in a legal battle with the MTA over congestion pricing fees that go to fund public transit. In its own management flub, the government's lawyers accidentally posted a private legal memo online saying the feds are likely to lose to the state in court.
