Join us for a Public Meeting to discuss pre-construction for B&P Tunnel Replacement Program:
Wed, September 14, 2022
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
2500 Edmondson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21223
At the Public meeting, you will learn about the upcoming Program projects. You will also be able to:
- Get project specifics including design, timeline, and efforts to mitigate community impacts
- View project displays
- Talk with project staff
If you require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require language translation services (free of charge), please call Nikia Mack at 443-423-1110, ext. 413.
According to Amtrak.com/BPTunnel:
The Frederick Douglass Tunnel is the centerpiece of the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program. The two new tubes, serving MARC and Amtrak customers, will be named in honor of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was a Maryland native and an early leader in the fight for the rights of women and minorities. He was also a frequent railroad passenger after escaping to his freedom by boarding a train in Baltimore.
The B&P Tunnel, located in Baltimore, dates from the Civil War era. At nearly 150 years old, it is the oldest tunnel Amtrak inherited and a single point of failure for MARC’s busiest line (the Penn Line) and the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The 1.4-mile tunnel, connecting Baltimore’s Penn Station to Washington and Virginia, suffers from a variety of age-related issues such as excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure, and a sinking floor. There are no fire and life safety systems that help keep passengers safe in the event of emergencies, and excessive costly maintenance is required. Due to its age, delays are chronic — more than 10% of weekday trains are delayed, and delays occur on 99% of weekdays. The B&P Tunnel must be replaced to meet the needs of the 9 million MARC and Amtrak customers who rely on it annually.
