According to MSG officials, the MTA's proposed renovation of Penn Station would force the New York Rangers to leave Madison Square Garden for at least a year and create other logistical obstacles to the construction of the arena.
Alternatively, other steps could be taken to improve the Long Island Rail Road passenger experience in Pennsylvania without significantly disrupting operations on "the world's most popular platform," MSG officials told developers in New York on Wednesday. . Allowing the park to remain in its current location at Penn Station forever.
The discussion comes during a public hearing by the New York City Planning Commission, which is considering whether to extend MSG's special permit, which expires next month, to allow it to hold events at its current location on Manhattan's West Side.
The Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is seeking an $8 billion renovation, defended the plan as comprehensive and said it would solve many of MSG's problems. He said the park is incompatible with transit facilities and urged city officials to make major changes to accommodate MSG's plan, which could remove the pedestrian bridge at the arena's main entrance and leave a loading dock to accommodate a large "train hall." They will be built between 31st and 33rd streets.
But MSG officials said the MTA concept has not been developed and it will create a huge logistical problem in the situation.
Among the problems: removing the footbridge would destroy the cooling system needed to cool the rangers' skates. "To do that, we would have to cancel Rangers games at MSG for the entire season," said MSG Vice President Richard Constable, denying the MTA's claim that the arena is hindering LIRR ridership growth.
The constable added. "The problems facing the MTA do not stem from the use of the platform. . . . They are caused by the MTA's desire to use land it does not own to construct the proposed improvements."
Since the original phase of Penn Station was rebuilt in the 1960s, MSG has operated in its current location under a special permit that expires next month.
Parks officials are asking to make the permit permanent because the city's other major sports and entertainment venues, including the Barclays Center, do not require such a permit. He said the temporary permit extension means all parties will eventually go back to the Planning Commission and any improvements to Penn Station could be canceled.
"And why invest billions of dollars over a few years...another process of 'Ah, you should start MSG,'" police said.
MSG officials have proposed more modest street-level improvements that they say will beautify the area around the arena and Penn Station, including new flooring, seating and seating. He noted that the alternative plan for Penn Station, proposed by the Italian developer ASTM, is more realistic and related to the work of the university.
There are plans to build a glass podium around MSG to take up more space at Penn and let in natural light, and the Madison Square Garden Theater will be demolished to create a new entrance to Penn on Eighth Avenue.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering transportation since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.
