Amtrak moves to seize control of Union Station.

[elleng]

The railroad said the move is necessary to upgrade the nation’s second-busiest train hub.

Amtrak is using eminent domain to try to seize control of Union Station, a move that the passenger railroad said is necessary to realize long-planned expansion and modernization of the nation’s second-busiest train hub.

The historic station, a fixture in the heart of the District, is owned by the United States, but it is leased to and operated by other entities. In a complaint filed Thursday in the District Court for the District of Columbia, the railroad sought control of the property interest owned by Union Station Investco LLC, a subsidiary of the New York based-Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., which has subleasing rights of the station through 2084.

Amtrak said it hopes to take over operations and management of the train hall to pursue multibillion-dollar investments at the station, including a long-planned concourse expansion and major repairs to a tunnel that runs under the station and is “in serious need of repair or replacement.”

USI will continue to operate the station until the court decides that possession and control can be awarded to Amtrak, the railroad said. Ben Ashkenazy, chief executive and chairman of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment in a message left with his assistant.

“We need to advance some long-delayed state of good repair and capital projects so that we can improve the station and shore up the station infrastructure,” said Dennis Newman, Amtrak’s executive vice president for strategy, planning and accessibility. “An improved Washington Union Station is really key to our mission.”'>>>

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/04/14/amtrak-eminent-domain-take-over-union-station/?

For info:

Amtrak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak

[Thomas Hurt]

1. This will result in a brand new christofascist conspiracy theory...just watch.

Probably something like it is going to be the new pedo human trafficking hub for the world or some bee ess like that.

[Kittycatkat]

2. This sounds bogus to me. Union Station belongs to the people and should stay that way.

Let Amtrak lease it. We cannot keep giving up public property for private profiteering.

[sboatcar]

4. It literally belongs to a private company now

and Amtrak, a mostly government corporation, wants to buy it.

[Kittycatkat]

6. My understanding is the property is owned by the US government, the DOT.

It leases it to Amtrak, not unlike the lease Trumpf has on the Old Post Office in DC where he has he made into the Trumpf International Hotel DC.

[NBachers]

3. I support Amtrak in this one.

[Kittycatkat]

7. Corporations shound not be able to buy public property. Let them lease it.

Must we sell everything off to the highest bidder? National Parks, Public Schools, Libraries etc are all under attack. We should not sell off public proerty IMHO. Period.

[IronLionZion]

5. I agree, Union Station needs a lot of help

it's been filthy for years but it's looking extra bleak these days. It's an important hub for buses, metro, and more.

[Kittycatkat]

8. Amtrak should upgrade. Anyone who leases land upgrades it for their specific needs.

Amtrak has gotten billiins in bailouts over the decades. Let them upgrade their business. Public Properties should not be sold.

[IronLionZion]

9. Secretary Pete is on board with this plan

I live and work near union station and it needs a lot of help. Amtrak has experience owning plenty of other stations throughout the US and might do it better than DOT.