Gerard Bringmann, chair of the LIRR Commuter Council and MTA Board Member, said:
“We’re seeing a better version of Penn Station than we’ve seen before — and with these improvements, it’s well on its way to becoming the train station commuters deserve. With weekday ridership still nearly 40% below pre-pandemic levels, it’s important that the MTA does everything possible to get more riders back on board. That means improving the overall experience of taking transit, including with better amenities, safer and more pleasant stations, continued fare discount programs, and more reliable and frequent service. With higher ceilings, brighter lighting, and new digital schedule boards, Penn Station is well on its way to finally becoming “more fit for humans than rodents,” as MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, and is a welcome change for millions of commuters, tourists, and riders who have waited decades for a more enjoyable Penn Station. Better wayfinding is a major benefit of this upgrade, with more readable real time digital signage that will help riders more easily see their trains and tracks. A better Penn Station—one of many major LIRR upgrades coming our way this year— will help prove that riders made the right choice by choosing transit and encourage even more people from Long Island to New Jersey to get back on board.”