A federal judge ruled that Amtrak acted in its legal authority when it took control of the commercial leasehold of Washington Union Station by eminent domain in 2022. 

In an opinion released last Wednesday and first reported yesterday by the Washington Business Journal, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said Amtrak had “met its burden of proof to exercise its ‘quick take’ authority” following the failure of Amtrak to reach negotiations to acquire the lease from Union Station Invesco. The lease the company had for Union Station’s commercial space, from the nonprofit Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, was supposed to last until 2084. Negotiations fizzled out after the two parties failed to agree on an appropriate price. Amtrak had offered Union Station Invesco $250 million, which was far below the company’s appraisal of $730 million.