Amtrak and the development team behind the proposed revamp of Baltimore’s Penn Station are hitting pause on expansion plans amid a project reset.
The passenger railroad and Penn Station Partners, a joint effort of Baltimore-based Cross Street Partners and the Beatty Development Group, began planning a revamp and expansion of the train station in 2018. The plan included renovating the historic headhouse, constructing an additional station building north of the recessed train tracks, and developing surrounding land parcels.
But the parties said in a joint statement emailed Monday that they would restructure their partnership and separately pursue different elements of the development effort.
Penn Station Partners will remain the master developer for the broader effort that includes altering the surrounding streetscape and developing nearby properties. Amtrak is taking on the restoration and revamp of the station headhouse interior.
But amid the shuffle, the passenger railroad is also tabling plans for the second station building, according to Amtrak officials who are not authorized to speak publicly about the project.
Previous site renderings showed the expansion along East Lanvale Street in what is now a surface-level parking lot. The new building was intended to house baggage and ticketing operations and connect to the main headhouse via a pedestrian bridge over the recessed tracks.
Construction crews closed off the Lanvale parking lot a few years ago to serve as a staging area before work on the expanded station was to begin. Now, the parking lot, which Amtrak owns, will reopen for public use this month.
The Central Baltimore train hub, which first opened in 1911, hasn’t undergone major renovations for more than 40 years. So its revamp, including new nearby office, retail and residential space intended to create a walkable, transit-oriented hub in Central Baltimore, has been one of Charm City’s highest-profile development projects.
Amtrak officials remain “fully committed” to station improvements and are working with the Federal Railroad Administration to work out a project plan and timeline, said spokesperson W. Kyle Anderson. Plans still include new retailers and amenities, as well as renovation of abandoned space on the upper floor for new uses.
Penn Station Partners had planned to build two additional residential and commercial buildings on East Lanvale Street adjacent to the expanded station. Christopher Seiler, director of marketing and communications for Beatty Development, wrote in an email that there is no current timeline for those buildings.
“We are aiming to stay flexible alongside Amtrak to address shifting strategic priorities. Beatty remains focused on pursuing development opportunities in the area and supporting Amtrak in the delivery of a world-class transit facility and experience,” Seiler said.
Work at the station has progressed in fits and starts as inflation and supply chain issues impacted project costs. In late 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration announced another $123 million for the project, and renovations to the building’s exterior are now complete.
Inside the station, Amtrak in early 2024 cut the ribbon on a new platform that will service its high-speed Acela trains. Another new platform is under construction and should be in service later this year.
Amtrak unveiled the first of its new NextGen Acela trains last summer and will increase daily weekday Acela trips in the Northeast Corridor from 26 to 32, starting June 22. Two of the additional trips will stop at Penn Station, and all Acela trains will stop at either Penn or the BWI Airport rail station, or both, Anderson said.
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