Amtrak to launch RFQ for redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station
The solicitation is part of a larger corporate program focused on innovative strategies for sustainable financial performance and infrastructure reinvestment.
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.
The railroad has issued a formal request for proposals to manufacturers for more than 800 new passenger railcars that will serve 14 long-distance routes nationwide.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
