A group of Democrats and transportation advocates called for more oversight of Penn Station Sunday, just over a year after the Trump administration took control of the $7 billion construction project at the transit hub.
Manhattan Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) is among those who say the administration must be more transparent on costs, developer selection, and MTA rights.
He claims developers on the short list all have ties to Trump donors, and says no public hearings have been held. He also says the MTA has not been consulted.
Rep. Jerry Nadler accused the Trump administration of lacking transparency on costs, developer selection, and MTA rights after it took over the \$7 billion overhaul of Penn Station. (Image: NBC New York)
“We’re hearing that Trump is conducting secret negotiations over this deal,” Nadler told reporters inside Penn Station. “This is the same president who tried to hold Gateway Tunnel funding hostage to get Penn Station named after himself. He failed, then he will fail again.”
Nadler acknowledged that Amtrak owns Penn Station, but said “make no mistake, it belongs to the people, not to Donald Trump.”
NBC New York News reached out to the White House and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation for comment. Last year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said his agency could deliver a world-class Penn Station by working with Amtrak. He withdrew the MTA as the lead agency for the reconstruction project.