Amtrak and Penn Station Partners announced Thursday that construction on the Baltimore Penn Station has begun.
The project, which will transform and renew Baltimore’s main transportation hub, will start with the installation of scaffolding, fencing and exterior materials.
“Amtrak and the Penn Station Partners team are returning Baltimore’s Penn Station to a much-needed state of good repair by making vital core and shell improvements to polish the station’s appearance and increase overall functionality,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Strategy, Planning & Accessibility Dennis Newman. “Once it is fully renovated and repurposed, Penn Station will serve as the prominent anchor for all future development that springs up on the adjacent properties while remaining the lively beating heart of the vibrant surrounding neighborhoods. We appreciate the support of Baltimore and the surrounding community during this transitional period as we work together to improve and preserve this treasured landmark.”
Improvements to the core and the shell of the station are tentatively scheduled to start this summer and include masonry repairs; refurbishments to the existing windows; a new roof; new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; and updated elevators, stairs, and ramps.
“Watching this scaffolding go up and seeing this transformation start to unfold right before our eyes is an exciting development and a signal to everyone who passes through here that Penn Station’s best days are yet to come,” said Tim Pula, vice president of Community Development for Beatty Development Group. “We thank Amtrak and all of our local, state, and federal partners for their continued collaboration and support. Together we will realize the full potential of this station not only as a major transportation hub and gateway to Baltimore City but as an anchor for the equitable and socially responsible future growth of the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Penn Station Partners said they would respect the station’s historic character through adaptive reuse while introducing modern sensibility. Currently vacant, the upper three floors of the station will be refurbished for use as office space for a single anchor tenant or multiple users.
Across the tracks from the existing station, a brand-new, state-of-the-art station expansion will integrate into the existing area with a new planned high-speed rail platform to increase capacity and modernize functions. Transit functions, like ticketing and baggage, will be relocated to the new station, freeing up space in the existing station.
Construction will take place in phases over the next few years, the partners said.