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Inadequate Planning, Limited Revenue, and Rising Costs Undermine Efforts to Sustain Washington, DC’s, Union Station

Requested by the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and former Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
Project ID: 
FI2014033

Union Station is Washington, DC’s main multimodal transportation hub as well as a commercial retail center. Each year, it serves millions of rail passengers, transit riders, residents, and tourists. The station is a Federal heritage asset, owned by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In 1983, the Department of Transportation (DOT) created the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) to manage and oversee Union Station’s operations. Presently, Union Station is undergoing repairs, major interior renovations, and other significant changes to improve access to trains, Metrorail, and buses. These high-dollar investments warrant increased oversight to avoid cost overruns, wasted funds, and damage to Union Station’s historical and functional value.

While FRA retains authority for adopting and enforcing building and safety codes, this authority has not been effectively executed, raising concerns about potential lapses in safety oversight. DOT and FRA have relied on USRC to effectively manage Union Station. However, USRC has not adequately planned for Union Station’s future. In addition, Union Station’s capital maintenance reserve fund is at risk of depletion and faces a potential shortfall of more than $5 million by September 30, 2014. The actual extent of the shortfall cannot be accurately estimated because the condition of various building components is unknown.

FRA generally concurred with our recommendations to improve the management and oversight of Union Station, and proposed actions to address them. Once these actions have been completed, we will assess their effectiveness in meeting the intent of our recommendations.

Recommendations

Open

Closed

Closed on 09.29.2015
No. 1 to FRA

That the Secretary and the Federal Railroad Administrator, or their designees, as Chair and member of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors pursue actions to complete a thorough reserve study for Union Station.

Closed on 03.07.2016
No. 2 to FRA

That the Secretary and the Federal Railroad Administrator, or their designees, as Chair and member of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors pursue actions to: Update Union Station Redevelopment Corporation's Union Station Master Plan to include coordination with Amtrak, Akridge, and other related stakeholders.

Closed on 07.30.2015
No. 3 to FRA

That the Secretary and the Federal Railroad Administrator, or their designees, as Chair and member of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors pursue actions to evaluate all possibilities to maximize revenue.

Closed on 03.07.2016
No. 4 to FRA

Define and communicate the extent of FRA's authority in the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) role to the appropriate parties; designate individuals or offices within FRA to assume responsibility for AHJ tasks; and oversee compliance with building and safety codes, and their process for reviewing and enforcing building code and safety issues that may arise.

Closed on 07.30.2015
No. 5a to FRA

Direct USRC to conduct a building assessment to identify and quantify deficiencies on nonstructural components.

Closed on 07.28.2017
No. 5b to FRA

Direct USRC to perform a full structural analysis on the building's structural components.