DOT Reclaims Union Station in DC, Announces Expansion

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) reclaimed management of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, in a supposed continuation of efforts to “help make [the] city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost.”

The Details: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also negotiating with Union Station Redevelopment Corp. and Amtrak to reinvest the station’s income into renovations and accept private investments. The renovations include expanded schedules and services, and twenty-eight trains are set to mobilize by 2027. New NextGen Acela trains are launching on Wednesday and Thursday to operate in and around major US cities in the northeast. 

For Context: DOT acquired ownership of Union Station – which opened in 1907 – in the 1980s, leasing management to non-federal parties. Duffy criticized Amtrak about crime at the station in March, and the management claim is accompanied by a host of other federalization efforts in D.C., including that of US control of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

How The Media Covered It: Outlets on the left of the political spectrum tended to focus more on the furthering of federalization efforts in D.C., while outlets on the right tended to focus more on the renovation and expansion plans. Fox Business (Lean Right bias), for example, highlighted that the NextGen Acela trains reportedly created about 15,000 US jobs. The outlet alternatively noted that Trump sought to cut Amtrak’s funding, though Amtrak set a passenger record last year. The Wall Street Journal (Center) highlighted DOT’s longstanding ownership of the station. Associated Press (Left) called the move, “Trump’s latest attempt to put the city under his control.”

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