New York life
Penn Station Rebuild Dispute Moves Into Public View
MTA Chair Janno Lieber and Andy Byford, Amtrak’s Penn Station rebuild lead, publicly disagreed over design review, lease rights and the MTA’s role in the federal-led project.
Why it matters
The dispute concerns a rebuild that could affect Long Island Rail Road and subway customers at Penn Station. MTA Chair Janno Lieber says the agency’s lease gives it rights to review the project and ensure it does not harm those services.
On October 8, Lieber accused Andy Byford, who is leading Amtrak’s work on the rebuild, of going “full MAGA.” Byford said he was not getting involved in politics and was focused on building a “world-class station for New Yorkers.”
What the agencies are contesting
Byford wrote in a Daily News op-ed that the MTA could delay construction by failing to answer basic questions. He praised President Donald Trump’s leadership and said the project team had met deadlines with the selected master developer.
Lieber responded that Amtrak was asking the MTA to give up lease rights and approve plans it had not seen. He said the MTA needs to receive the designs before offering feedback.
Funding and timetable
Trump has set a goal of breaking ground by the end of 2027, according to Gothamist. Byford said the team intended to break ground next year, while the project is expected to cost $8 billion and Amtrak has yet to secure funding.
The exchange follows earlier sharply worded letters between Lieber and Byford about whether the MTA should participate as a fully involved construction partner.
Reader takeaway
For riders, the key limitation is that the MTA’s design-review role and project funding remain contested. The public dispute does not establish how service will change.
Source & further reading
Gothamist ↗Source published: October 8, 2026
