Security Improvements at Various Amtrak Stations

Embracing the national and global trend to improve homeland security, combat terrorism, and secure infrastructure, Amtrak utilized the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to enhance security systems at 11 locations in the mid-Atlantic that collectively serve millions of people each year.

To meet an aggressive schedule imposed by U.S. Congress as part of the ARRA requirements, the team adopted a design-build project delivery approach and completed the security installation within 11 months and $3 million under budget; a traditional design-bid-build approach would have taken nearly twice as long. Work included the installation of 600 security cameras, electronic entry control, and physical access control elements such as bollards, fencing, and gating.

The project team defied numerous project obstacles – including various interests from Amtrak, management and police, unions, consulting firms, state historic preservation organizations, and the federal government – to accomplish the mission using the design-build project delivery method.

The technical achievement of the project spans the spectrum of electrical engineering, rail transportation, and security expertise. Dedicated teams of more than 100 people representing varying expertise worked concurrently at each project site to make 15 preliminary designs a reality.