Full steam ahead for Moynihan Station.

The Empire State Development Corporation is living up to its promise to finally get the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Station built and could start facade work in as little as two weeks time.

On September 8, the agency's board of directors agreed to enter a preliminary contract with Amtrak to do an engineering and construction analysis on its Penn Station area infrastructure to prepare for the construction of the new Train Station.

The ESDC has also received $10 million from the developers that it will put toward its down payment for the former U.S. Post Office facility in which the station will be located. The agency has already paid the Post Office $20 million.

According to members of the ESDC board, Amtrak will receive up to $1.3 million to evaluate its existing platforms and tracks and inform the developers of any adjustments that will have to be made for the Moynihan Station project. Amtrak had been expected to play a major role in the construction process, but had to abandon those plans due to financial difficulties last summer. However, because some of the train operator's tracks are located in the project area, Amtrak will still need to be involved.

The Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Station has been on the ESDC's planning board for more than 10 years and, but for various reasons--including Amtrak's withdrawal from the project and the fallout from 9/11--it has been postponed several times.

All the elements finally came into place this July, with the appointment of Vornado Realty Trust and the Related Companies as the developers for the $818 million Station. The next step on ESDC's agenda will be negotiations with New Jersey Transit, which will be one of the main tenants at the new facility. Those negotiations are expected to begin in the next few weeks.