I understand why the MTA was/is involved, yet their involvement should not have put them in charge of the project.
While the original Penn Station may have been just a train station serving the now gone Pennsylvania Railroad, the current Penn Station is an infrastructure that serves Amtrak train lines, train lines of the New Jersey Transit system, train lines of the Long Island Railroad, and access to multiple subway lines transiting under 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue. It is more than a single “train station”. It is a major transit hub serving four government transportation enterprises, each with its own governance and stake holders.
Anyone trying to satisfy the competing legitimate interests has a herculean task. However, the Trump administration decision is the right one, as Amtrak owns Penn Station, not the MTA, not the Long Island Railroad, not New Jersey Transit. Yes, Amtrak needs to address their concerns and interests, but need not surrender its authority.
More than just putting Amtrak in charge, they need to declare, or make by law, that all of Penn Station is federal property, and then cut off NY, NYC red tape and reduce the federal red tape to make decisions and get the project done.
Great post and you're totally right on this last part. Thanks for sharing. Trump should look into this matter and 'assist' with ideas.