Project Profile: Howard Street Tunnel (HST) Expansion for Double-Stack Rail

The Howard Street Tunnel Expansion is a critical freight infrastructure project designed to eliminate a major rail bottleneck along the I-95 corridor in Baltimore, Maryland. By increasing the tunnel’s vertical clearance, the project enables unrestricted double-stack container train passage, significantly boosting freight capacity and efficiency between the East Coast and Midwest markets. This initiative represents a strategic upgrade to the US national freight network, aimed at enhancing supply chain resiliency and reducing highway congestion.

Technical Specifications

The primary engineering objective is to achieve a minimum vertical clearance of 21 feet throughout the rail corridor to accommodate double-stack intermodal container trains. The core of this work involves increasing the clearance within the 1.7-mile Howard Street Tunnel by 18 inches using advanced notching techniques on the tunnel’s arched ceiling. This method minimizes disruption to the existing structure and surrounding urban environment.

Beyond the tunnel itself, the project scope includes significant bridge modifications. The North Avenue bridge will undergo partial replacement, while the Guilford Avenue and Harford Road bridges require complete replacement to meet the new clearance standards. To ensure a seamless double-stack corridor, strategic track lowering operations are also being executed at 22 locations across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. This comprehensive approach ensures that the entire freight route is prepared for higher-capacity trains, removing all legacy vertical restrictions.

Key Takeaways

• Resolves Critical Freight Bottleneck: The project eliminates one of the last remaining impediments to double-stack rail traffic along the vital I-95 corridor, directly increasing the Port of Baltimore’s competitiveness and streamlining the flow of goods to and from the Midwest.
• Enables Modal Shift from Truck to Rail: By making rail freight more efficient and cost-effective, the expansion facilitates a significant shift of container traffic from highway to rail. This is projected to reduce truck miles traveled, leading to lower carbon emissions, decreased road congestion, and improved highway safety.
• Model for Public-Private Partnership (P3): The project’s $466 million funding structure, combining a $125 million federal INFRA grant with substantial investment from CSX, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, serves as a successful blueprint for financing complex national infrastructure upgrades through collaborative stakeholder investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Howard Street Tunnel project be finished?
The Howard Street Tunnel expansion project is scheduled for final construction completion in 2025. Full double-stack operational capability along the corridor is anticipated to be online by the first quarter of 2026.

Who is building the Howard Street Tunnel expansion?
The project is a public-private partnership led by freight operator CSX Transportation. Major funding and collaboration are provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) through an INFRA grant, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).