Department of Transportation reclaiming control of D.C. Union Station

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

In the Trump administration’s latest bid to “beautify” Washington, D.C. and make it safer, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it is reclaiming control of Washington Union Station.

The DOT says that the move is necessary to restore the historic landmark to “its former glory.”

The DOT has owned the train station, located on the edge of Capitol Hill, since the early 1980s; however, the agency says control of the building has been “steadily reduced under various agreements and leases,” arguing that this has contributed to the site becoming “dilapidated.”

“Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair. By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Since President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency on Aug. 11 in the district, deploying the National Guard and increasing patrols by federal law enforcement, Union Station has become a focal spot for patrols. The exterior entrances of the building had become a hot spot for homeless.

Wednesday’s announcement adds to a growing list of improvement and beautification projects the president has undertaken in recent weeks in the nation’s capital, as the president has stressed the need to clean up the district.

“USDOT will now leverage the valuable commercial aspects of Union Station, under the direct management of USRC, to reinvest in Union Station. The capital needs of Union Station include improvements to elevators, lighting, and security along with enhancements to the passenger experience and replacing the roof and other major systems,” according to a release from DOT.

The agency argues the changes will “improve” income for the transit hub, “which should unlock opportunities for private investment as part of potential expansion of the station.”

Union Station opened in 1907 and services Amtrak, Metro, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains. In addition to being a transportation hub, the station includes several restaurants and shops.

The DOT didn’t indicate how much taxpayers would be on the hook as part of its investment in the building.