Gov. Hochul vows “alternative plan” for Penn Station project

Gov. Kathy Hochul isn’t willing to say the $7 billion renovation and expansion of New York Penn Station is dead, even though a key state senator says it’s “dead three different ways.”

On WNYC’s All Things Considered on Thursday, host Sean Carlson asked the Democratic governor about the future of the Penn Station redevelopment, which has been dealt repeated blows in recent months by real-estate giant Vornado’s decision to pull back on a series of planned office towers in the surrounding area — buildings that were supposed to pay for much of the massive transit project.

Hochul said any “declaration of death for the Penn Station” project is “premature,” vowing to pursue an “alternative plan” to make sure it moves forward.

“I’m committed to getting that done,” Hochul said. “I will shift gears and find other ways to make sure this happens. It is not contingent on what Vornado was planning in the entire neighborhood.”