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Amtrak's Penn Station plan includes loads of public benches, a rarity in NYC
Gothamist • • business
Key Points:
- Amtrak’s redesign of Penn Station includes numerous wooden benches throughout the concourse, providing both ticketed and public seating to improve commuter comfort and pedestrian flow for the 600,000 daily users.
- The seating plan draws inspiration from the original Penn Station's benches, featuring tactile wood and armrests designed to discourage sleeping while prioritizing elderly and parents with children.
- Seating has become scarce in NYC transit hubs due to hostile architecture aimed at deterring loitering, making Amtrak’s plan for ample seating a notable departure from current trends.
- NYC Transit reported a significant overnight ridership surge following the Knicks’ NBA Finals win, with 329,000 riders between midnight and 5 a.m., surpassing typical New Year’s Eve numbers.
- Ongoing disputes between MTA and Amtrak continue over Penn Station’s reconstruction, with calls from Amtrak for MTA partnership met by MTA leadership’s criticism of the federal planning process, while Governor Hochul urges collaboration.
