On Tuesday, Amtrak announced it had selected Kiewit/J.F. Shea Joint Venture to build the passenger rail tunnel that will serve electrified Amtrak and MARC commuter trains in the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program.
The tunnel construction is scheduled to begin in 2026. With the announcement, the latest step of work to modernize and transform an estimated 10-mile section of the Northeast Corridor can move forward.
“We are one step closer to unlocking the biggest passenger rail bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and New Jersey,” Amtrak Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery Laura Mason said. “This would not be possible without historic funding through the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, as well as continued support from the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA and our funding partners at Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA).”
Officials said the new tunnel will serve electrified passenger trains o two parallel, single-track tunnel tubes, and will support much faster travel speeds. Currently, trains are limited to maximum speeds of 30 miles per hour due to the tight curves.
Scheduled for completion in 2035, the overall program will replace five roadway and rail bridges, build new rail infrastructure and construct a new ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC station. Additionally, the project will replace the existing 150-year-old B&P tunnel built during the Ulysses S. Grant Administration, fitting the new tunnel out with tracks, rail systems and ventilation facilities.
“The new Frederick Douglass Tunnel will generate fresh opportunities for Marylanders and help secure our transportation future,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore said. “This project marks an important step forward in our work to build strong pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all — while investing in critical infrastructure throughout the state.”