B&P Tunnel - Creating a Higher-Speed Alignment Through Historically Sensitive Baltimore
(Room 101 D)
24 Sep 19
9:00 AM
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9:30 AM
Tracks:
AREMA Technical Sessions By Date- Passenger & Tranist, AREMA Technical Sessions By Functional Group- Passenger & Tranist, Technical Sessions By Day- Tuesday
Higher-speed tunnels are proposed to replace Amtrak’s B&P Tunnel that opened in 1873. The project will relieve a two-track, 30-mph bottleneck on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor by creating four single-track tunnels on a new alignment that will allow Amtrak to increase service frequency and reliability. The existing tunnel, within the Baltimore street network, is geometrically constrained and cannot be cost effectively rehabilitated while maintaining service. The replacement tunnel alignment is optimized to: increase speed; reduce conflicts; permit a commuter rail station to upgrade to high-level platforms; and, importantly minimize impacts to the historic resources throughout the project area. The vertical alignment poses additional constraints to accommodate: meeting existing track with a fully universal interlocking at the south project limit; meeting the Baltimore Station platforms; traversing over city streets, utilities, and a waterway; and traversing under other city streets, a subway station, LRT station, and a CSX bridge. Furthermore, construction must be able to be staged while maintaining street and rail operations. Using creative design solutions and having open dialogue with historical resource specialists and stakeholders, the project team produced an alignment that both respects the historic neighborhoods and resources while meeting Amtrak’s needs and requirements by solving a century old problem of how to increase track speed and operational efficiency through Baltimore. While just under four miles long, the new alignment will reduce travel time by over two minutes. This project shows that it is possible to increase speed and reliability while being sensitive to the historic urban environment. *Missed this Session or want to view it again? Stop by the VirtualAREMA kiosk located in the Registration area to purchase this product today!