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The new sign is already visible on the 29th Street side of the Amtrak station, which now includes the words "William H. Gray III" in dark-blue letters against gray metal, placed above the 30th Street Station sign.
"We are just beyond excited and a step forward in the process toward what we have always wanted," says Justin Gray, president of the William H. Gray Memorial Foundation and son of the late congressman.
William Gray, who represented the 2nd Congressional District for 13 years, was the first black majority whip in Congress. He also lead the United Negro College Fund and Bright Hope Baptist Church as its pastor.
July 1 marked the sixth anniversay of his death, and this is the fifth year since Congress passed legislation renaming the station after the beloved political figure.
"Our goal is for there to be signage throughout the station at various points, where you see the 30th Street sign, in addition to a statue and a plaque at the station," added Justin Gray. "Our goal has always been that the station be something that prompts the question, 'Who was Bill Gray?' "
Congressman Dwight Evans issued a statement this week saying details of the memorial to Gray are still being worked out and will be announed by the end of the month. A spokesperson for Amtrak said in an email that the agency is fully engaged with the foundation on all aspects of the renaming project.
Ticket media, Amtrak's website, mobile site, and other platforms are expected to be updated over the course of the next few weeks.
Earlier this year, Bright Hope Baptist Church donated more than $100,000 to the Memorial Foundation, which is paying for the renaming effort.