Amtrak to launch RFQ for redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station

Amtrak has taken the next step toward a comprehensive redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station and adjacent properties with the forthcoming release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking a Master Developer partnership. Amtrak expects to release the RFQ later this month.

In advance of the RFQ, Amtrak will host an Industry Day to introduce prospective bidders and development industry representatives to Amtrak’s asset monetization and station improvement initiatives at Baltimore Penn Station. The solicitation for Baltimore Penn Station’s Master Development is part of a larger corporate program focused on innovative strategies for sustainable financial performance and infrastructure reinvestment.

Amtrak is seeking interested parties capable of all aspects of project delivery, including an implementable Master Plan, design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of non-rail assets at Baltimore Penn Station, as well as expansion opportunities and commercial development of the surrounding Amtrak-owned properties. Any development solution envisioned by the selected proposer will need to align with Amtrak operational goals as well as integrate successfully with the surrounding neighborhoods.

The railroad released a Request for Information (RFI) in January and received a strong response from local, national, and international development teams interested in a partnership with Amtrak to transform the core of central Baltimore.

Amtrak is now moving forward with a two-step procurement, including the RFQ, followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be issued to a short-list of qualified Master Developer teams. Solicitation remains open to all prospective bidders, regardless of their participation in the RFI process.

Baltimore Penn Station is currently the eighth busiest station in Amtrak’s national network with ridership forecasts predicted to double along the Northeast Corridor by 2040. At more than 100 years old, the aging station is struggling to meet the modern needs of a transportation network that is in high demand. The RFQ is being issued as demand for passenger rail service continues at these record levels.

While the solicitation for a Master Developer advances, Amtrak continues to dedicate significant resources to improve station conditions, customer amenities, and track infrastructure in the near-term at Baltimore Penn Station. Over the past five years, Amtrak, Maryland Transit Administration, the City of Baltimore and neighborhood partners have invested nearly $20 million in immediate improvements.