FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Laura Miller Brooks, lmillerbrooks@federalcitycouncil.org
DC Business Community calls upon
President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg
to make Union Station’s Expansion a Federal Infrastructure Priority
Washington, DC (June 16, 2021) – Yesterday, more than 100 members of the business and civic community of the Metropolitan Washington region have signed a joint letter urging President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg to make funding the Washington Union Station Expansion Project (SEP) a federal priority in the American Jobs Plan, or any federal infrastructure package.
The expansion of Union Station represents the single greatest economic development and transportation opportunity for the District of Columbia and the region, and the time to realize this opportunity is now.
This year the Federal Railroad Administration, in collaboration with Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, will unveil the ten year, $10.7B Washington Union Station Expansion Project (SEP) to modernize facilities and create a world class multi-modal transit hub. Not only will the expansion double the station’s capacity for Amtrak and commuter rail service, it will enhance safety, access and the station’s role as a high-capacity, multimodal transit center. The SEP will create 67,000 construction jobs over 10 years, and increase access to jobs and talent throughout the region and entire Northeast corridor.
Because Union Station is a federally owned asset, and its expansion is a federally-led project, President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg are uniquely positioned to accelerate and realize this project and create a lasting symbol for our nation’s transportation and urban future. The letters to President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg, which were organized by the Federal City Council, demonstrate support from regional businesses and nonprofits of all sizes and call upon the President and USDOT to act to ensure this federally owned asset, and federally-led station expansion project, are supported and funded.
You can find the letter to President Biden HERE and the letter to Secretary Buttigieg HERE.
