B&P Tunnel Replacement Program Overview
B&P Tunnel Replacement Program, featuring the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel
The Frederick Douglass Tunnel is the centerpiece of this program, featuring two new tunnel tubes serving primarily MARC and Amtrak passengers. The new tunnel is named in honor of Frederick Douglass, 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 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.
The B&P Tunnel Replacement Program will modernize and transform a four-mile section of the NEC. The work will include the construction of:
- 10 miles of rail improvements along the NEC
- ~2 miles of new tunnel per bore in West Baltimore (two tunnel bores)
- New and improved railroad infrastructure
- New ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC Station
- State-of-the-art modern fire/life safety systems
- 5 Bridge replacements in Baltimore City (2 roadway, 3 railroad bridges)
- 11 Baltimore City roadway modifications
- Noise barriers in Midtown Edmondson and Greater Rosemont communities
