Penn Station Access breaks ground in the East Bronx ahead of opening in 2027

Residents of the East Bronx have taken another step closer to a much-anticipated one-ride trip to Penn Station following groundbreaking for a new train station in Parkchester.

“Penn Station Access – that means two big things: First, the East Bronx will finally no longer be a transit desert. And second, people from the Bronx and Westchester can go straight to Penn Station,” US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters in the Bronx on Friday about the $3.18 billion project .

The forthcoming station is scheduled to open by 2027, along with new stations at Hunts Point, Morris Park and Co-Op City, which will service MetroNorth trains through Westchester County and the Bronx to Penn Station along Amtrak-controlled rail lines.

Officials say the new train service will allow thousands more people to access jobs, schooling and other services in Manhattan with the same ride comfort enjoyed by people in other boroughs.

“People have been talking about this for over 30 years,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said on the landmark Friday.

“Many people who have lived here, grew up here, died here, never had a chance to really understand what true freedom is about – freedom to have access to transportation without spending most of their lives on walking and Going to be limited, take a bus and take another train, another train,” she added.

According to the MTA, half a million people will live within a mile of the four stations, with Bronx residents estimated to save 50 minutes per trip.

“This expansion not only reduces travel time, improves regional connectivity and provides local economic benefits,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), representing the Bronx.

However, according to Schumer, improving rail service in Westchester and the Bronx was not easy given the bureaucracy that had held up the project.

“The focus was on getting Amtrak and the MTA to play well on the details of joint access to the Hell’s Gate line and the Pelham Bay Bridge, as well as who would invest how much money,” he said.