RELATED: Amtrak investing $370M to improve Northeast Corridor
Amtrak working to enhance customer experience at D.C. Union Station
Built in the 1980s, the Claytor Concourse contains waiting areas for Amtrak customers, retail and food establishments, and amenities.
January 9, 2019
Amtrak will expand Washington, D.C.'s Union Station concourse to double its capacity, which will alleviate congestion and enhance customer comfort and accessibility. Image: Amtrak
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Amtrak will expand Washington, D.C.'s Union Station concourse to double its capacity, which will alleviate congestion and enhance customer comfort and accessibility. Image: Amtrak
As part of ongoing work to upgrade the customer experience at Washington Union Station, Amtrak is seeking a general contractor to revitalize the Claytor Concourse.
With the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on Jan. 4, 2019, Amtrak and its partners are beginning a two-phase process to select a contractor to modernize the Claytor Concourse, Union Station’s intercity passenger and commuter rail pathway.
Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2019. Construction is anticipated to be completed in 2022. Amtrak is working in coordination with multiple stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), and commuter and transit partners.
Built in the 1980s, the Claytor Concourse contains waiting areas for Amtrak customers, retail and food establishments, and customer amenities, such as restrooms. Virginia Railway Express, and Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail customers also access the concourse.
Amtrak will expand the concourse to double its capacity, which will alleviate congestion and enhance customer comfort and accessibility. Connectivity will be improved to provide customers better access to the commuter rail and bus transportation that serves the station. The project will also brighten the space with new architectural finishes and more natural light.
Other project work calls for the addition of more restrooms and the construction of a new Metropolitan Lounge (currently Club Acela), a premium lounge space providing customers with a high-quality experience. Additional space will be added for support services such as station manager and customer service representatives. Work to upgrade and relocate mechanical and electrical equipment is being completed.
Information related to the RFQ can be found on the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation website at https://www.usrcdc.com/category/rfp/.
Learn more about other infrastructure investments that Amtrak is leading at nec.amtrak.com.
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