The Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel

Now Available: Final Preliminary Alternatives Screening Report

The Preliminary Alternatives Screening Report (PASR) has been updated from the draft report prepared in October 2014.  This final version has been prepared in consideration of input received from the public at the Public Open House on October 29, 2014, as well as input received from Federal and state regulatory agencies. For additional information on the PASR, please see the Preliminary Alternatives Screening Report tab under Environmental Studies.

October 29, 2014 Public Open House

A Public Open House was held on October 29, 2014 at Mt. Royal Elementary Middle School. Please see Public Involvement/Past Meetings for more information on the Open House including meeting materials. Check out a video of the Open House here.

A summary of the Public Open House is available here. This summary includes a synopsis of the Public Open House, a summary of comments received, and the actual comments received.

Please see the "Contact Us" tab at the top of this page for additional ways to submit comments and/or join the project mailing list.

B&P Tunnel Description

The Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel is a two-track railroad tunnel underneath central Baltimore City. The tunnel opened in 1873 and is located between the West Baltimore MARC Station and Pennsylvania Station along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC). This section of the NEC is used by Amtrak and Maryland's MARC Commuter Rail passenger trains, as well as Norfolk Southern Railway freight trains.  The B&P Tunnel is owned by Amtrak and should not be confused with the Howard Street Tunnel, which is owned by CSX and used solely by CSX freight trains.

B&P Tunnel Project

Working to improve rail service, reliability and address a longstanding bottleneck along Amtrak's busy Northeast Corridor (NEC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Amtrak are advancing an engineering and environmental study to examine various improvements to the 141-year-old Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland.  MDOT was awarded a grant from FRA to complete the study as part of the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. As part of the study, FRA will lead development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in close coordination with MDOT, the public, and other stakeholders.

Explore the tabs at the top of page to learn more about the B&P Tunnel Project and how you can get involved.