A statement from LIUNA Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager Dennis L. Martire on President Biden’s visit to the B&P Tunnel Replacement today.

Annapolis, Md. (January 30, 2023) - It was a full-circle moment to have President Biden kick off the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program today. Thanks to President Biden, the structurally deficient, 150-year-old B&P Tunnel will finally get the attention it needs. From the early days of his administration to his signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, President Biden has been committed to strengthening our nation’s infrastructure.

The B&P Tunnel Replacement is just one example of that commitment taking shape. With a labor agreement in place known as a project labor agreement (PLA) between Amtrak and the Building Trades, of which LIUNA is an affiliate, this project will also contribute to another priority of the Biden Administration: to create good, family-supporting jobs. PLAs have been used throughout Maryland to the benefit of developers, contractors, workers and communities. Not only are PLAs known for keeping projects on time and on budget, but they also often include local and minority hiring requirements that ensure the accessibility of good jobs to those in close proximity to the project. We intend to honor the project’s namesake, Maryland native Frederick Douglass, by providing skilled, local laborers throughout construction and continuing to bring training opportunities to Baltimore residents so that they have the skills needed for a construction career that starts with the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program. 

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