FAQs

Why is this project starting now?

The last major renovation of Baltimore’s historic Penn Station was in 1984. To prepare for increased passenger volumes anticipated through 2040 and beyond, Amtrak is advancing plans for redeveloping and improving its busiest stations. The current development process at Penn Station has been ongoing since 2017 when Penn Station Partners was selected by Amtrak as the master developer. Public meetings to establish a shared vision for the project were held in 2018 and 2019, with an additional meeting planned for 2023.

What’s going to happen to the “Male/Female” statue in the Station Plaza?

The “Male/Female” statue is owned by the City of Baltimore through the Baltimore Public Art Commission (BPAC) and managed by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA). At this time, no decisions have been made about the statue’s future at Penn Station, and the final decision about what becomes of the statue will be made by the City of Baltimore (not the development team). Concepts for the station plaza are in a very preliminary phase, and further analysis is needed to determine if the statue will be part of the redesigned plaza. As part of that process, the development team looks forward to discussing the statue with BPAC, BOPA, and the broader community.

I noticed that _______ does/does not appear in a rendering?

Unless otherwise noted, all released renderings should be considered conceptual in nature. Renderings are not meant to imply or guarantee that anything will or won’t be in the final delivered product. Renderings are only intended to provide the viewer with a broad sense of the project's overall feel or a certain element of the project.

When will construction start?

• Restorative work on the exterior of the historic station is now underway.

• Core and shell improvements to the existing station should begin in Fall 2023.

• Construction of the station expansion on the Lanvale lot is projected to start in Fall 2023.

Please note that these dates are estimates only and are subject to change.

Where will people park if you develop the Lanvale parking lot?

Development plans for the Lanvale parking lot include a parking garage. This parking structure will serve both rail customers and future commercial/residential development. The exact number of spaces and whether those spaces are below grade, above grade, or some combination is still being studied. Further, the development team is studying how to add surface parking at track level on the east and west sides of the lower level of the existing City of Baltimore garage that would be accessed through that garage. Future developments on the West lot or St. Paul lot would also contain additional shared parking.

What are the sustainability efforts of the new development?

Projects at Penn Station will comply with the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) which was adopted by Baltimore City in 2015. IGCC is equivalent to USGBC’s LEED Silver rating. The development team is exploring the possibility of expanding sustainability efforts to be on par with USGBC’s LEED Gold designation. Potential sustainable features include:

• Reuse of a previously developed but underutilized site (Lanvale lot).

• Reuse and redevelopment of the existing historic station.

• Transit-oriented development with easy access to a variety of transportation options.

• Indoor/outdoor terraces.

• Green roof.

• Large glass windows with energy-efficient glazing, allowing for maximum levels of natural light and daylight use.

• High-efficiency HVAC systems.

• Building materials with low amounts of volatile organic compounds to improve indoor air quality.

• Low-flow toilets and water fixtures.

• LED lighting.

• Electric vehicle charging stations and dedicated spaces throughout the garage promote low-emission vehicle use.

• Increased bike parking.