(rshsdepot) Rochester, NY

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

New rail depot receives backing

Transportation panel's support a first step for the $6 million plan

By Rick Armon
Democrat and Chronicle

(March 8, 2002) - The Genesee Transportation Council voted Thursday to build
a $6 million train station to replace the current one on Central Avenue in
the city.

The plan includes an 8,000-square-foot Amtrak station, high-level platforms,
a pedestrian bridge to the far tracks, a secured parking lot and a park.

The council, the regional body that governs transportation projects, will
seek a government agency as sponsor. The project is years away from becoming
reality, said Steve Gleason, council executive director.

"We're delighted that the ... proposal was accepted," said William Nojay,
chairman of Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and a
council member. "RGRTA is a natural sponsor for the project."

The council has been studying a new station in anticipation of high-speed
rail service. The tracks of the current station, built in 1978, are not
designed to accommodate those trains.

The new station would be built closer to North Clinton Avenue, so
construction wouldn't disrupt current rail service.

The project was approved based on two assumptions: that the site remains the
same and the station isn't consolidated with a proposed bus terminal on
Mortimer Street.

In an unrelated matter, a dispute resulted after Nojay introduced an
amendment to a resolution on $4.5 million in federal money for the city's
proposed fast ferry project between Rochester and Toronto.

Nojay said it stated that the city must meet federal requirements. Last
year, federal money was pulled and Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. "distorted
the facts" by blaming the county, Nojay said.

City Council President Lois Giess and city Environmental Commissioner Edward
Doherty objected that the resolution wasn't shown to Transportation Council
members earlier. The resolution was tabled.

Johnson said the amendment was part of Nojay's ongoing effort to derail the
project.

For more, click on the "Fast Forward" icon at www.gtcmpo.org.

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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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