Union Station in Washington, D.C. has "about 29 million people" pass through the station each year. An 18-month reconstruction project is in the works to improve walkability and safety for the massive number of visitors.
The 104-year-old railroad facility has been a major attraction for tourists as well as commuters for years. According to Coleen Gentles, "it's classical Beaux-Arts architecture influenced other popular landmarks in Washington, D.C." As other areas nearby undergo redevelopment, its clear that this old landmark is in need of one as well.
"The $7.8 million redesign will include new sidewalks... The plan also calls for eliminating a fishhook-shaped road that cuts through Columbus Plaza, restoring the plaza to its earlier appearance and allowing for easier pedestrian access to the station from the Capitol and other areas... Additional improvements to the area include the very successful bicycle storage and rental facility added to the west side of the station, and laying tracks for the future H Street streetcar route," stated Gentles.
FULL STORY: To Form a More Perfect Union Station: Redesigning Columbus Plaza for Pedestrians
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