The National Gateway and the District of Columbia

Photo of Abraham Lincoln's statue in the Lincoln Memorial

The National Gateway proposes a state-of-the-art rail corridor linking the East Coast's international deepwater ports and major consumption markets with the population and manufacturing centers of the Midwest. With improved clearances, new terminals and greater capacity, the National Gateway will improve the flow of freight by rail, enhancing the District of Columbia and surrounding region's consumer options.

While the route structure is already in place, the National Gateway will provide the necessary capacity, facilities, and equipment for highly efficient, environmentally-friendly advanced rail service. Funding for development will come from both public and private sources, with public benefits of $22 expected for every $1 of public money invested.

Expanding capacity on our nation's railways will bolster environmental health and promote economic growth.

The National Gateway delivers over $247 million of public benefits to the District of Columbia by:

  • Enhancing rail transportation infrastructure to attract new business and jobs to the region
  • Expanding rail service to the District's markets
  • Eliminating key passenger (Amtrak/MARC/VRE) and freight bottlenecks by providing an efficient double-stack and double-track route through the District
  • Reducing highway congestion in the Washington Metro area

More Rail Options:
The National Gateway will expand rail service to and through the District, connecting the region to Midwest and Western markets and providing District shippers and consumers expanded freight routing options.

Highway Relief:
By creating an additional freight transportation option, the National Gateway will reduce traffic congestion and lower highway maintenance costs. One train can carry the load of more than 280 trucks, clearing space for over 1,100 cars. The National Gateway will shift an estimated 128,000 freight truck miles off the District's highways to rail. Any effort to shift freight from highways to railways greatly improves safety, the environment and traffic.

Environmental Benefits:
Railroads are the most environmentally-friendly way to move goods on land. On average, railroads are three or more times more fuel efficient than alternatives.

Logistics Savings:
By expanding rail access and providing new shipping options, the National Gateway is expected to reduce overall freight shipping costs on goods entering and leaving the Baltimore-Washington region.