A Through-Running Future for Penn Station: Bringing Regional Dynamism to Greater New York

Speakers: Karim Ahmed, Scott Bernstein, Dr. Robert Paaswell, Samuel Turvey

ReThinkNYC and other allies join us to discuss the potential to convert commuter rail operations at New York Penn Station to a through-running model, which is favored in the Federal Railroad Administration guidelines and acknowledged as the international gold standard for commuter rail.

On this continent, Philadelphia and Toronto already have through-running, with Los Angeles soon to follow. The FRA recently published a Phase 1 report calling for at least some through-running to take place at Penn Station, with a second phase of the study soon to follow.

The panel will examine the current status of through-running efforts at New York Penn Station in the context of the FRA activities and more. ReThinkNYC has been advocating for a through-running conversion since as early as 2014 and invite you to learn more about their outlook on and experiences with this project of national importance.

Karim Ahmed: senior transportation advisor, ReThinkNYC; principal, Reform Architecture PLLC

Scott Bernstein: founder and emeritus, President of Center of Neighborhood Technology; co-founder and chair, Surface Transportation Project; known expert and sponsor of Housing and Transportation Affordability Index

Dr. Robert Paaswell: distinguished professor of civil engineering emeritus, City College of New York; director emeritus, University Transportation Research Center, City College of New York; former CEO, Chicago Transit Authority

Samuel Turvey: chairperson, ReThinkNYC; coordinator, Empire Station Coalition; lead, Penn Community Defense Fund; 2025 City & State Transportation Trailblazer