Amtrak, Maryland improve communication at Washington Union Station

Amtrak and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) have completed a $2.2 million project to expand and improve the public address and electronic passenger information display systems at Washington Union Station.

Funded primarily under the MTA-Amtrak Joint Benefit Program, the project involved the addition of more than 290 speakers and 44 LED signs on station platforms used by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express trains, according to an Amtrak press release.

Amtrak installed an ADA-compliant audio inductive loop technology at designated ticket counters and at the customer service desk to enhance the travel experience for passengers with hearing loss and to improve communication with its customer service representatives, Amtrak officials said.

Washington Union Station is a retail and multimodal facility that serves more than 32 million visitors annually. The station's master plan calls for revitalizing the historic station to increase passenger and rail capacity, and adding new amenities and transit-oriented mixed-use development above the track. While efforts continue to advance the plan, early action items are being pursued to improve the rail passenger waiting areas and expand the existing concourse to improve pedestrian traffic flow, Amtrak officials said.