How a federal push for infrastructure could propel DC’s Union Station forward
By George Kevin Jordan
June 3, 2021
Greater Greater Washington
"Over the past few years the challenges of revamping Union Station into a multi-modal transit hub had been all over the regional news. But with a devout train rider as president, and federal push for more efficient transportation and infrastructure, could Union Station finally be getting the national attention it needs to move the project to the finish line?
The heavy lift of progress
The obstacles Union Station faces are many, and the stakes are high. Pre-pandemic, the station saw about 37 million riders each year, and linked Amtrak with MARC, VRE commuter rail, intercity bus, and metrorail all under the same roof. And the region was only expected to grow (Ridership patterns changed during the pandemic, but it’s too soon to tell which changes will be permanent). The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which is overseeing the project, had projected a huge uptick in ridership growth for rail, and intercity bus travel by 2040. Right now, however, the station is not equipped to handle more passengers. The station has had long lines at departing stations, and needs critical design updates to meet the expected demand..."
https://ggwash.org/view/81487/how-a-...-in-dc-forward