Amtrak Plans Benches for 600,000 Daily Penn Station Commuters as Funding for Overhaul Remains Unclear
Updated
Updated · Gothamist · Jun 26
Amtrak Plans Benches for 600,000 Daily Penn Station Commuters as Funding for Overhaul Remains Unclear
3 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Jun 26
Summary
Amtrak’s Penn Station redesign calls for extensive public benches across the concourse, a rare feature in New York rail hubs where riders now often sit on stairs or floors.
HOK architects said the seating is meant to move 600,000 weekday commuters more smoothly through the station while reducing stress and chaos, not just adding an amenity.
Renderings show long wooden benches around escalators and near retail areas, plus closed seating for ticketed passengers; the benches will include armrests intended to discourage sleeping.
The plan stands out because seating has been limited at newer hubs such as Moynihan Train Hall and Grand Central Madison, reflecting broader anti-loitering design trends.
Funding is still unresolved, and the proposal arrives as Amtrak and the MTA continue to spar over how the federally led Penn Station reconstruction should proceed.