# MTA chair calls Amtrak's Penn Station plan 'bizarre,' declines to join as partner

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-23 18:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
The MTA has officially declined to partner with Amtrak and the Trump administration on the proposed redevelopment of Penn Station.

## Intelligence Brief
MTA leadership has publicly rejected an invitation to participate in a Penn Station remodeling project. Coverage from outlets including Bloomberg, Newsday, and Gothamist emphasizes a deepening friction between the MTA, Amtrak, and federal authorities.


Reports highlight an exchange of criticism regarding a pre-development agreement signed between Amtrak and Penn Transformation Partners, with MTA leadership alleging gamesmanship and a potential appearance of impropriety. Future developments depend on whether the pre-development agreement between Amtrak and Penn Transformation Partners proceeds without MTA cooperation.


It remains unclear if federal or state entities will take further action to reconcile the conflicting positions of the agencies involved.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Newsday | MTA head says Penn Station partnership with Trump administration would lead to concourse 'tear up' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxQcUU0TmZjbXJZVVFVNGY0R3hhNTNTYzRJYXFqVWpFUDV2dEx3cl8zdFZtRFdINzZJbndZRFJGd3oxTGFnRFFoWEpaLVBwUlRCZFN6dnJId1RFR0JmUGo1VWdlWUNxTDFoZmdNSVZjOG82c1k1aHZ5cHd6OEhiaVZRUUtSMzN4enNsYXI4T1ZB?oc=5) |
| Spectrum News NY1 | Amtrak and MTA spar over participation in Penn Station redevelopment | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxQaUxWclUwUkkxc0JWcVcweEVMZElKQkkxaTNVcWIxLTJWQzV5R0tqZm9SRTE4T1MzNFpYeVJfV01zMnJUQUJVcjIxN3FpZG9OckhNRkE3UTBoaGZzR05GaXNVRV90MUswT1pLM0VvLU50SFJTRkFjR3RrdHlIQnc2X0NmRWFrQ3R4dHlCb2xkeVUxQ2Jqa2Y4VmVmYmRKVWFfbkFxNDRMQlhVUi1zLUxxNVhoZF9EMzNw?oc=5) |
| Bloomberg.com | NY’s MTA Chief Rejects Trump Deal on Penn Station Renovation | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxQNWR2MkplajZoS2IwRDIyV1pERWtjS290QW0yWTBhX0FianNpQU14RDRqMGtBVzNGVVlWSmhWUjJHckFMNC1uRTNKbXlpWU9zS0lvb284VGNBcEJGZHZoejF6RDgzcWU2VjhVbklkRDJOUkJpRHFOWUlvZzhVVXFCcDEybWh1ZlF0UU5vM0ZhYjhIVlctS3pEMEZkeUdqbVVjdmRDdHM3RVg0RUpyT2FWOGln?oc=5) |
| amNewYork | Pulling ‘a fast one’ at Penn Station? MTA boss Lieber accuses Trump admin of trying to bamboozle agency over redevelopment plan | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE5mM2Mxbkl2UmM5UzFOcUctRnpQYVZmWWQ0OUQ5blJOU3p0T0IxQXo5T0hKQWhfWjZtQlZzQWRNLVpoMHRnOTlWY3JVcjBMNlkyazV1bHRqQ08zaTJhQXdHSXNYaUtkUWIydlF4NUdqdW9KQQ?oc=5) |
| trains.com | New York MTA turns down Amtrak offer to join Penn Station remodeling effort | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQOWMtdmxDeFRLU08xeWxOWXNIVGdmUWhkRTBjTmlwUXJBcGg1dHB1aldpcUNmcVNhR1JIS2hidWJLX0RiSkwzaGRTdDhETS1jMFNpbnpJbnJvY1Iyck8tMUhTNEtSMXF5MXg2S0JaRGJWNU9EZVVhb1hFR2NDZHhpZFpmNEFMRkJyMDdqenp3RDl0RXdxYnk5djZDdFBJclNlSWJ4UGoxa011XzlJOGIxQkM3Zw?oc=5) |
| Progressive Railroading | Rail News - Amtrak, Penn Transformation Partners sign pre-development agreement. For Railroad Career Professionals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPYjJscHpva2lLMzJuY04ydW1sTmppV0c2Zm9RS2NvMjBHU0JOR2NJY0ZKT1psem5QOVdHZUFSSzFuMkt4N0gtQy1uX3lyc3F4UTFyakZqN3VfYkgtZjhxT0t1Mm9pNkQ2Z2NVWWs1Nm1WeU9TRHQzdXBPYWVyaTR6TmJVNzJfTjhIRDJ6V01wT0tpY0o4OTFGUGVCZUtxTXYwR0VXMHU0Z3pfYlRseXp6X09sYUxBMlVzR2xESTU3T09SQQ?oc=5) |
| Streetsblog New York City | Press Boxed: MTA Boss Accuses Amtrak's Byford Of 'Gamesmanship' With Leaked Letter About Penn Station | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxPbk50X2sxdE5HM2t3Y3h3QXlUbUJGX0pQd3ZZSHIwaXp3a0hMcWMyczY1OFpDQS1qOFRyTVRHUEx3THI1VzJqNEg1Y2VQVF9acHBzRFN2MmRKMmN0MFRzaTljUFhBczFlRE1JNVRzNmZnUjNNc1VZenFXM1NiNUY5Nnp0THlHNF9qQ0hmLVF5MmxBcW9iLVEwaGpwaEt0ejVVYm5tQU9QR3FTNGdkRDB1bURXOWNOTWdWNU5fX1FtY1ByTklaS0hhZEwwZ3RmUFY2Smc?oc=5) |
| New York Daily News | MTA head blasts Trump’s Penn Station plan as having ‘the appearance of impropriety’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPNTBPZ2FYNWs4QVh4TjRGQlR1dHYxaGdRLVplX1NvTHVHY0NfU3k3UmJINndCRHY3UE5OOW9CdEJJVThEcDF3QmJaZldfaFJnSXVDeHoxRjE2OTVmWUhUR0VDRENWbXVac2g4X05Ibzc5VDB6aEthUjktUzNmYUVJLU5OQ0hzUHM0bGpTQlcyc1JmUjBFbXN4NzRMVXRJcHNnU0NFenNIc0N1ekplNjdwWmxuM28zcHg4ZF9tbQ?oc=5) |
| trains.com | Amtrak, master developer sign ‘pre-development agreement’ for Penn Station | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOVnBfMW1sRkE0YTVnWkdlTVBoakNCaURuZFJOWDR6X2JtZGxweGFKOXYwSVFya3lpRDAtb1FaUWRpWUxRRGltUUxzNkVkNjJGT3k2RnkwaU1yUWoyQ3FnbWh6bEZtLTlLOVcycFhDSnJWZmM0eW9qUkZiemNzbGxPUWk3dkpWb0lHaVc5RnJSR28wY0tCRm1WNUg1eFVVSUxXdUhrZzVRVGJpTHVEWUE?oc=5) |
| Railway Age | Amtrak, PTP Sign Pre-Development Agreement for PSNY | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxORmZ0R1I5VjVnQUJLVU1KU20tZXh6Q1RxUGZ6TVlfbnVRaU5QX0ozc2RTZ1Y5TXJGbm1TUEFzZlFSRDUyOVVSeGoxeGxhQ3BPMjBxSUdEel9aT215VkZxWFJaUWRTWnhBaWEwODQzSU5jcGpFNWoyWGtROEdlQzV4a1NzcVotWGhaeVEtOU1QUXJ6d2xDMld6Q25ndHZJQjA?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | A Glimmer of Hope for Fixing Penn Station | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxQZm1NR1ZOV1J3NVktckVnSUlZUkdhNFlRRGpqNERKNml5MlUxM0xWN1c3MUp2czJKNEtNV2lDREI4dHRsd3pnRnZSY0QwZ1RfcFhrbVkxRmRQQTVhX0M2VkZMeG92MHdYRkpILWhRMHg2U1V2cXVwTGRhMkpoOGhWLTRQcW9YQTNyS0piYnl4dDRPQ2ZV?oc=5) |
| New York Daily News | Keep Trump’s hands off of Penn & Midtown | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOdXBDRmJsYXF4OFREbE1BUWJQcDFpQXRvT2VJTzBqTzhWeVp4LU5IMFBvajk3bVZ2LUhJYnB2SVBGMG9VRVpqUjNvT2N3TlhOWnE0U2JoVk5SZmRTZDZuMEUzSDdLdTh5WHRNYUhtbnZoQVFnc1IwbjYyamhwOGxKZjlibw?oc=5) |
| Amtrak Media | Amtrak and Penn Transformation Partners Sign Pre-Development Agreement for New York Penn Station Transformation Project | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6AFBVV95cUxPWGJxdmJVOFd1eXAzaXFEVHJOTmpJaGhXenNpcXVycThUTjl4ZHljTHZxZHFXcFNzQW5kZGRJR0F3S0l4Sll0NFpLYUdMMURRMVFfclhNY2dYemlWaDBOdThlaGpGRXhNWjYtWGh1M0tFcHEydVRhamU3NmJ0RTRkQXVpWXZwMElnNXpKTVc0WlhNZ0t5UllTaGk3VE1GcTJuUmtMREVwb2xxQmk4ZGdILW5zdHRBRlV4b3VQU0hSX0VJdzJSSFY2Y1RQRnUxYmRXMzVKX3dFRi1OZFMzdjBBWFlqZnItSmxU?oc=5) |
| Gothamist | MTA chair calls Amtrak's Penn Station plan 'bizarre,' declines to join as partner | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxQZDVnNlM0ekw5XzJQanhDekdxVE9DUE4zNWZlY1lOLXhNYTZGWEdIUGhmZkNpdEx1bHppeURnWVFtYXVCZlBGWnU4OWV3Z2dOQTQ1WjBLMDFmaEJELUtUNWJhTFNSMjJEcTFWZktmRUlPVV9fWWs0UGFGTjFIdkJ6eDhBSFQwWGsyMk5JejNYR01ObVBJYWF0LXNVOE9kSzNRcFB6eWc2RQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-23/mta-chair-calls-amtrak-s-penn-station-plan-bizarre-declines-to-join-as-partner*