NYC City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchise
Chair of The City Club of New York's Transportation Committee, Liam Blank (Urban Mobility Strategist), testified before the NYC City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchise in opposition to the 10 year proposed extension of Madison Square Garden's Special Permit to lease its current space atop Penn Station. Madison Square Garden's coexistence with the station reduces the tri-state area's vibrancy, functionality, and economic competitiveness. The City Club of New York recommends a shortened extension, of three years or less, to push towards a genuine relocation plan for MSG which will open up possibilities for an optimized Penn Station. Listen to his full testimony here.
Highlights
Revamping Penn Station to meet the future needs of the tri-state area is not possible while MSG exists above it; Penn's functionality is substantially compromised by coexistence with MSG.
Penn Station struggles with safety issues which are directly created by the structural needs of MSG. The supports holding up MSG also create congest congestion in Penn, and make it difficult for users to navigate the station.
Above ground, MSG inhibits pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area