The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has finished the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for replacing the Civil War-era Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel in Baltimore, Md. While Amtrak owns the B&P Tunnel, FRA leads the environmental review process in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Transportation.
Compared to the existing tunnel’s 20-foot depth, the new tunnel would be approximately 100 feet underground, which would nearly eliminate any noticeable vibrations from passing trains.
The FEIS includes review of the Alternative 3B route. In response to the community input provided during more than two dozen meetings held over the last two years, the FRA has changed several items on the final FEIS. The ventilation plant has been relocated to West North Avenue to preserve a community garden, the number of land parcels and historic properties impacted has been reduced, proposed relocations have been decreased, and the proposal to rebuild a larger and ADA-compliant West Baltimore MARC station has been maintained.
“Rebuilding the B&P Tunnel is a significant undertaking along the Northeast Corridor,” stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “I am encouraged by the input provided by the communities, and that much of that input led to changes to make this project better for everyone involved. This is a great example of the value that public engagement and community involvement bring to the transportation planning process.”
The review includes proposed mitigation measures to address the impacts created by the route. These measures include establishing several grant funds to support community development and recreation facilities, providing project-related job training and hiring preferences for local workers of social and economic disadvantage, implementing construction noise and vibration mitigation plans, and establishing a grant fund for historic preservation.
“This project is better because communities provided input on how a new tunnel could be built with as little impact as possible, and where there was an impact, how we can reduce it,” said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg. “The new tunnel will keep trains moving along the Northeast Corridor and create jobs in Baltimore.”
The federal government has invested $60 million for the preliminary design and environmental review for this project.