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Dive brief:
- Washington, DC’s historic Union Station, the nation’s second-busiest train hub, is a key step toward an $8.8 billion overhaul. The Final environmental impact statement of the project and the record of decision is complete, the Federal Railroad Administration announced in March.
- The project now moves into the design and engineering phase, which could take several years and will likely result in schedule and cost changes. The nonprofit Union Station Redevelopment Corp. is leading the effort in coordination with Amtrak.
- Amtrak, MARC, VRE, Metro and Greyhound passengers use the station, which is the region’s main multimodal hub as well as a key terminal on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. It used to be a shopping, dining and entertainment destination, but it was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemicaccording to The Washington Post, and many storefronts are now empty.
Diving knowledge:
Just blocks from the U.S. Capitol building, Union Station first opened to passengers in 1907, but in recent years has been plagued by poor maintenance and a lack of investment, according to Amtrak . A tunnel that runs under the station is in dire need of repair and the existing facilities are not large enough or modern enough for current or future needs, particularly because the federal government invests in rail.
Planning for the makeover began nine years ago with the goals of improving the railroad’s capacity, reliability, efficiency, accessibility and safety, as well as the customer experience, according to the project’s website. More specifically, it aims to support current and future rail service and operational needs, facilitate intermodal transportation, preserve and maintain the historic station, and better integrate it with surrounding neighborhoods.
Based in London Grimshaw Architects is leading the design of the project, along with New York City-based Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, London-based Arup and Watertown, Massachusetts-based VHB. No construction contracts have been announced.
next steps
According to the latest plans, the historic main pavilion will be joined by extended railway platforms. There will be a new train hall, modernized tracks and platforms, a new bus facility and an underground garage and pick-up/drop-off area. The new additions would be built behind the historic main terminal. The goal is to finish the project by 2040, meaning construction should begin in 2027.
The project is complicated in part because there are many entities involved. The Federal Railroad Administration owns the Union Station complex, but it is managed by a private company, Union Station Investco. Amtrak subleases about 13% of the building and also owns the station’s train platforms and tracks, according to The Washington Post.
In a lawsuit filed in District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2022, Amtrak argued that it should be granted full control of the station through eminent domain in order to proceed with its redevelopment plans.
However, in November 2023 Union Station Investco and others companies contesting the takeover said they have cooperated and not impeded any of the improvements Amtrak intends to make, according to WTOP. The case has not yet been resolved.
