Planning and development due diligence has been underway since January 2018, after Penn Station Partners, led by Beatty Development Group and Cross Street Partners, was announced as the lead developer for the project.

Amtrak and Penn Station Partners are currently developing a vision plan for the station and surrounding Amtrak-owned properties, called Next Stop Baltimore Penn Station, in partnership with local stakeholders and the community.

The first phase of work at the station, which is the eight busiest on the Amtrak network, includes the renovation of an existing platform to return it to service and the construction of an additional platform. Amtrak will invest $US 90m in the project.

The development framework and station area improvements will build on continuing Northeast Corridor infrastructure and capacity improvements, including the Amtrak high-speed rail expansion project currently underway.

The Baltimore project also complements ongoing improvements at New York Penn Station, the opening of the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York, and further station developments in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

“This is an important project for the city of Baltimore and one that we need to get right,” says Mr Michael Beatty, president of Beatty Development Group. “The first public meeting in July 2018 provided us with so much useful, insightful feedback. We are looking forward to holding additional public meetings over the next six months now that commercial agreement has been reached.”