Summit commuters could soon have a chance to weigh in on one of the biggest rail projects affecting their daily trip to New York.

Two public webinars on Monday, July 27, will update riders on the proposed Penn Station Transformation Project — a plan that transportation officials say is critical if New Jersey is going to fully benefit from the new Gateway rail tunnel now under construction.

Why does it matter? A federal study released July 16 found that upgrades to Penn Station would increase rush-hour capacity from 24 to 32 New Jersey trains per hour. That's an improvement, but still well below the 48 trains per hour the Gateway tunnel is expected to handle when it opens.

For Summit's roughly 2,400 daily rail commuters, that means the new tunnel alone won't solve overcrowding unless Penn Station can accommodate more trains.

Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy, a Summit resident who commutes on NJ Transit himself, has been vocal about the issue.

"The increased capacity will be for naught unless Penn Station can receive more trains," he told TAPinto Summit.

The proposed Penn Station overhaul would expand platforms, improve passenger circulation and reconfigure tracks to handle more trains. Construction is expected to begin after design work is completed, though the project remains several years away.

Residents can learn more and ask questions during webinars from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. or 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on July 27. Officials will also accept questions during the presentations.

For commuters who rely on Midtown Direct service every day, the discussion offers a chance to weigh in on changes that could shape rail travel for decades.