Nearly thirty million passengers every year travel on Amtrak commuter rails. Established by the United States Congress in 1970, Amtrak is a nationwide high speed, intercity, passenger-rail service which traverses over 500 destinations – 46 in the United States and three Canadian provinces. In 2005, Amtrak commissioned George Ranalli Architect to help develop of the site of an old power plant – mid-block on 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues – among a row of 19th Century loft structures. The Amtrak Hotel Tower project proposes the renovation of the existing building adapted for reuse as the new northeast headquarters – featuring custom workspaces, and state-of-the-art communication systems and imaging technology – and a new 16-story boutique hotel.