Amtrak expands Union Station footprint

Union Station 's leadership is promising more improvements at the transit hub now that a messy, behind-the-scenes legal fight is over.

The big picture: On Monday, Amtrak took control of a large tract of space at Union Station from a third-party company, two years after it sought the takeover via eminent domain.

• The timeline of the case had cast uncertainty over the station, as retailers and leaders weren't able to plan for the future.

Between the lines: Riders won't notice any changes immediately.

• But it's a good time for Union Station, which plans to soon welcome back a Starbucks and is enjoying increased foot traffic from a pandemic low.
• The handoff clears the way for Amtrak to pursue some of its short-term ambitions for the station, like creating more passenger space.

What they're saying: "We will continue to oversee and collaborate with Amtrak to identify and implement capital improvements that enhance the experience for all station users," said Union Station Development Corporation, the entity that has ultimate responsibility for the federal station.

What's ahead: Union Station's long-term plan is to triple passenger capacity and make it a hub for high-speed rail and commuter trips.

• It's expected to cost $8.8 billion and take a decade.