Amtrak has launched a revitalisation and improvement programme for Washington Union Station, of the country’s most historic and busiest multimodal hubs.
The focus will be on enhancing the customer experience, comfort and security, and implementing investments to better serve the many travelers and visitors that use this iconic station, including Amtrak Northeast Corridor and national network customers, commuter rail, metro, tramway, and local and intercity bus service passengers, visitors to the capital, and our neighbours in the surrounding community.
The launching of this effort gets underway following the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granting Amtrak the right to take control of the management and operations of the station following a lawsuit the company initiated in April 2022.
“Washington Union Station is a major transport hub, tourist destination, and a key asset of our core business. Amtrak has the experience and vision to create a safer and more welcoming environment for travelers and other visitors and ensure the vitality and longevity of this iconic building,” the president of Amtrak Roger Harris said.
Following the decision, Amtrak is responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of the station, including the drive aisles between the station and Columbus Circle. Amtrak will immediately initiate work to address the safety, security, repair and maintenance of the station, and manage the leasing of retail, office and advertising space, kiosks and special events.
The operator will not have responsibility for the parking garage and Columbus Circle, located outside the front of the station.
Improvements, to be introduced over time, will include adding more seating for customers, improving traffic flow in front of the station, and modifying boarding processes on the main concourse to reduce congestion and improve the customer experience.
“A new and exciting chapter is beginning for Washington Union Station. Amtrak is committing to ensure this historic station remains a vibrant and welcoming place for all,” Roger Harris said.
Other immediate plans include setting up an information booth in the main hall for customer service representatives to assist travelers and expand digital and directional signage throughout the station.
Amtrak will launch this work in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration, which represents the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the building owner, and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, which leases the building from USDOT, to improve the overall experience at the station.
In March 2024, FRA signed a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) and final section evaluation for the Washington Union Station expansion programme. The project aims at supporting current and future growth in rail service and operational needs, achieving compliance with ADA and emergency egress requirements, facilitating intermodal travel as well as enhancing integration with the adjacent neighborhoods, businesses, and planned land uses. The programme will also support continued preservation and use of the historic Station building.
Amtrak operates a nationwide passenger rail service and is the only entity in the United States that has significant experience with the management, operation and oversight of large transportation centers such as Chicago Union and Baltimore Penn stations, and William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Opened in 1907, Washington Union Station is the second busiest station in the Amtrak national network. Amtrak ridership at the station in FY2023 was 4.7 million. Peak passenger use is projected to grow during the next two decades, which solidifies the station as an essential component to the growth of Amtrak.
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