The Department of Transportation is set to resume management of Washington, D.C.’s transit hub, Union Station. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy proclaimed this move as a measure to ‘help make this city safe and beautiful. ‘
The announcement was made in conjunction with the unveiling of new Acela trainsets. The move comes amidst an anti-crime crackdown initiated by the Trump administration involving a significant federal presence in Washington. The Transportation Department has been the legal owner of Union Station since the 1980s, but its control has been diminished due to a series of leases and agreements.
Union Station, an integral part of D.C.’s Metro system, serves as a significant travel hub in the Northeast corridor and the rest of the East Coast. According to Amtrak, around 70,000 commuters traverse through Union Station daily.
Union Station has found itself at the center of the federal government’s crime reduction efforts in Washington, citing issues such as crime and homelessness. A solid National Guard presence is stationed there, as highlighted by recent visits from Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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The Department of Transportation asserts that it will soon be able to reinvest revenue from the station for capital improvements, such as enhanced security measures, improved lighting, and elevator upgrades. The department is renegotiating an agreement with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and Amtrak to regain full control by September.
