Frederick Douglass Tunnel plans move forward amid concerns from some Baltimore residents
BALTIMORE -- Amtrak heard from residents Wednesday about plans to build the Frederick Douglass Tunnel, as community engagement efforts around the project continue.
An in-person forum was held Wednesday evening at Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School in Baltimore.
The tunnel will replace the 1.4-mile Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel, which connects Baltimore's Penn Station to MARC's West Baltimore Station, the oldest Amtrak-owned tunnel in operation along the Northeast Corridor. It's nearly 150 years old, according to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Amtrak states the existing tunnel is impacted by a variety of age-related issues including excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure and a sinking floor.
According to Amtrak, the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel plan includes the construction of two new high-capacity tunnel tubes for electrified passenger trains, new roadway and railroad bridges, new rail systems, track and infrastructure, plus a new ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC station aimed at delivering a faster, more reliable trip.
A map of the project shows the new tunnel would be built north of the B&P Tunnel.
Once complete, certain trains traveling from Baltimore's Penn Station to Washington D.C. will make the trip in about 30 minutes.
"I commute to DC pretty often," commuter Nicholas Wright said at the meeting Wednesday. "It would be efficient. It would be great."
Community concerns over Frederick Douglass Tunnel project
However, residents in the path of the new tunnel continue to raise concerns at each monthly community meeting.
"In February of this year, I received a letter saying they want to make me an offer of $7,000 to dig under my property to build a tunnel," Gary English said.
Multiple neighborhood groups retained the Community Law Center to spearhead feedback.
A group of Reservoir Hill residents also filed a civil rights complaint against Amtrak with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The 36-page document alleges the project would cause harm to the historic neighborhood through demolition, noise pollution and a ventilation system slated to be installed across the street from a city school.
Earlier this week, Amtrak said Edmondson neighbors can expect to receive notices in the next week or two about construction starting soon.
The next bi-monthly meetings are set for September 9 and 11.
