Governor Moore inaugurates Howard Street Tunnel

Governor Wes Moore celebrated the inauguration of the newly redesigned Howard Street Tunnel at the Port of Baltimore on Monday. During the ceremony, the launch of double-stacked freight train operations at the Helen Delich Bentley Port was announced. This project, realized with a budget of $495 million, aims to boost the port’s container business and bring economic benefits to the region, according to the governor’s office.

Economic impulses through infrastructure improvements

Governor Moore emphasized the project’s significance for Maryland’s economic development. The public-private partnership behind the tunnel project is expected not only to increase the port’s throughput capacity but also to create thousands of jobs. Estimates suggest that the economic benefits for Maryland residents could amount to around $1 billion annually. Additionally, he anticipates that the initiative will contribute to emission reductions.

A central obstacle for transporting double-stacked containers has been the height restriction in the Howard Street Tunnel and at other locations. With the expansion of the 131-year-old freight tunnel by 45 cm and the improvement of clearance height at 21 additional locations in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, it will now be possible to operate double-stacked container trains to and from the Port of Baltimore. This enables service along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Florida with double-stacked container trains.

www.governor.maryland.gov