After years of starts, stops and half-starts, the long-delayed expansion of New York’s Penn Station is set to begin.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday the $270 million first phase of the project that includes expanded concourses and extra entryways on the western end of the station. The adjacent James Farley post office will also become a new passenger facility.

The new terminal will be named after late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who championed the project beginning in the 1990s.

Port Authority executive director Patrick Foye says NJ TRANSIT riders who now have to walk nearly two crosstown blocks underground will be able to get into the station or above ground quicker.

The second phase will turn the basement of the post office into Amtrak’s new terminal.

Work is scheduled to start by the middle of 2012 and be finished in 2016.

(Source: WCBSTV)