Amtrak,  America’s Railroad, has announced it will host an Industry Day for prospective bidders and development industry representatives interested in the Master Development partnership opportunity for the redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station and adjacent properties in the U.S. state of Maryland, in advance of the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Baltimore Penn Station, built in 1911, is a major multimodal transportation hub serv­ing the greater Baltimore region and is a vital link along the busy Northeast Corridor. Penn Station serves Amtrak’s high speed Acela Express, Northeast Regional and long-distance train services. In addition, the commuter operations of MARC’s Penn Line, the city’s light rail and bus service can all be accessed via the station.

Industry Day will feature a presentation on Amtrak’s approach to investment and development at its major stations, specific improvement initiatives at Baltimore Penn Station, as well as an overview of next steps in the Master Developer solicitation.

In January, Amtrak released a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit feedback regarding a potential Master Developer partnership to redevelop the Amtrak-owned station and surrounding land parcels, as well as advance improvements to both passenger and employee facilities. Following-up on positive market indicators, Amtrak anticipates moving forward with a two-step procurement, including a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), followed by a Request for Proposals from a short-list of qualified Master Developer teams.

Amtrak will seek interested parties capable of all aspects of project delivery; including an implementable Master Plan, design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of non-rail assets at Baltimore Penn Station, as well as expansion opportunities and commercial development of the surrounding Amtrak owned properties. Any development solution envisioned by the selected proposer will need to align with Amtrak operational goals as well as integrate successfully with the surrounding neighborhoods.

The solicitation for Baltimore Penn Station’s Master Development is part of a larger corporate program to leverage Amtrak’s substantial asset portfolio. Focused on innovative strategies for sustainable financial performance and infrastructure reinvestment, this program includes additional future opportunities at one or more Amtrak stations including Chicago Union Station.                                                   –

The Industry Day will be held at the University of Baltimore John and Frances Angelos Law Center, Moot Courtroom, located at 1401 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD on Aug. 10, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include several Amtrak speakers, presentations, and networking opportunities. The event is free but registration is required.