The U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said his department plans to engage the private sector in the overhaul of Washington Union Station.
Duffy said the department is investing an additional $24 million into creating a public-private partnership for use in expanding the station’s capacity while enhancing passenger experience and expediting the project’s work.
“Overhauling the historic Washington Union Station is a pivotal part of President Trump’s plan to make D.C. beautiful and safe. This is the gateway to our nation’s capital–it’s time its infrastructure reflects that,” Duffy said. “We’re thinking strategically and creating a public-private partnership to deliver meaningful upgrades to Union Station, ensure long-term profitability for this gorgeous transportation monument, and better serve the millions of travelers who rely on this critical transit hub.”
The announcement builds on the U.S. DOT’s efforts to revitalize the station since Duffy’s announcement in May unveiling a $466 million investment into the station that would fast-track structural repairs, expand the passenger concourse, enhance security and add family-friendly infrastructure.
In 2025, Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) Boards of Directors agreed to restore federal control of the facility through a cooperative agreement with the DOT.
“This funding allows us to partner with the private sector to engage the industry’s best ideas for the station’s future expansion through a vision that is both ambitious and achievable, Doug Carr, president and CEO of Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, said. “It’s a critical opportunity to reimagine the project and develop a clear, fundable path forward for the future of Union Station. We appreciate the ongoing support and investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation and for recognizing the station’s redevelopment as a national priority.”
USRC and Amtrak said they will leverage cost-effective design and construction techniques to attract private investment, while FRA is conducting a service optimization study to maximize passenger benefits and keep operations running smoothly during construction.