ASTM Proposes $6B Penn Station Overhaul, Critics Question MSG Favoritism

A private developer, ASTM North America, has unveiled a competing plan for the redesign of Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station, claiming it would be significantly cheaper than the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)-backed proposal. The ASTM plan involves overhauling Penn Station and wrapping Madison Square Garden in a stone facade. The firm argues that its plan would save at least $1 billion and result in a more unified train hall. The announcement is expected to fuel conflict between ASTM and the MTA, with the decision on which plan to pursue being made jointly by Amtrak, New York, and New Jersey.