The Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program

The B&P Tunnel, located in Baltimore, dates from the Civil War era. At nearly 150 years old, it is the oldest tunnel along this section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and is a bottleneck for operations of MARC and Amtrak passenger trains. The 1.4-mile tunnel, connecting Amtrak’s Penn Station to MARC’s West Baltimore station, is impacted by a variety of age-related issues including excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure, and a sinking floor. The tunnel does not include any of the modern fire and life safety systems that help keep passengers safe in the event of emergencies, and extensive maintenance is required. These factors are evidence that now is the time to provide the 9 million MARC and Amtrak customers in this area with a modern tunnel that delivers a faster, more reliable trip.

This program will modernize and transform a four-mile section of the NEC. The work will include the construction of:

• Two new high-capacity tunnel tubes that will primarily serve electrified passenger trains
• New roadway and railroad bridges
• New rail systems, track and railroad infrastructure
• A new ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC station