Fw: Fw: (rshsdepot) Saugatuck, CT

["fred fep" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>]

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Henry Rosenberg" <henryr.javanet_@_rcn.com>
To: "fred fep" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: (rshsdepot) Saugatuck, CT


> What they're talking about is WESTPORT station. Yes, it's in the section
of
> Westport known as Saugatuck and yes, when we were kids the trainman used
to
> call out "WESTPORT AND SAUGATUCK" but nowadays it's known as just plain
> Westport.
>
> At 07:17 PM 12/19/02 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>
> >To: "Rail Depot List" <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
> >Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 3:48 PM
> >Subject: (rshsdepot) Saugatuck, CT
> >
> >
> > > New Year will bring new Saugatuck Train Station
> > >
> > > By: Fredrika Ward, Staff Writer December 13, 2002
> > > Westport Minuteman
> > >
> > > By mid-2004, Westport's 160-year-old Saugatuck Train Station will be a
> >more
> > > user-friendly facility.
> > >
> > >
> > > The station is one of several scheduled to undergo construction as
part of
> >a
> > > Connecticut Department of Transportation project to make stations
along
> >the
> > > New Haven-New York line compliant with the Americans with Disabilities
Act
> > > specifications.
> > >
> > >
> > > The total cost of this project is estimated at $7.8 million. According
to
> > > the DOT, 80 percent of the project will be financed by federal funds,
and
> > > the remaining 20 percent by state funds.
> > >
> > >
> > > According to Second Selectman Carl Leaman, staging for the project
will
> > > begin Saturday, Dec. 14. However, to avoid interruption through the
> >holiday
> > > season, work will not begin until after Jan. 1.
> > >
> > >
> > > The most significant portion of this construction will be the
installation
> > > of a new pedestrian tunnel under the tracks to the west of the
westbound
> > > station building. Construction methods for the new tunnel are modeled
> >after
> > > the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, or "Big Dig" in Boston and are
supposed
> > > to eliminate the need to stop service during renovation.
> > >
> > >
> > > An elevator will also be put in place to carry passengers between the
> > > platform, parking lot, and tunnel levels. The existing tunnel will
also be
> > > renovated.
> > >
> > >
> > > In addition, textured warning strips, similar to those in Grand
Central
> > > Station, will be installed at the edge of the platform, increased site
> > > lighting will be added, and general improvements will be made to the
> >parking
> > > lots, platform ramps, stairs, and landscaping.
> > >
> > >
> > > Within the Railroad Place station house itself, an ADA-compatible
ticket
> > > window will be installed and the restrooms, heating, and lighting will
all
> > > be renovated.
> > >
> > >
> > > During the estimated 18 months of construction, a temporary ticket
window
> > > will be provided while the station itself is closed for renovations,
> >Leaman
> > > said.
> > >
> > >
> > > Baier Construction, from Bloomfield, Conn., has been awarded the
contract
> > > for this project.
> > >
> > >
> > > According to the DOT, available parking at the station will be reduced
> >after
> > > the new tunnel is installed. The number of spaces to be eliminated has
not
> > > yet been determined, said Westport Officer Nick Tiberio, who is part
of
> >the
> > > Railroad Commission.
> > >
> > >
> > > Since it was built in 1840, the station has only been altered three
> >times -
> > > in the 1870s, the 1890s, and the 1930s. As the structure is eligible
for
> >the
> > > state Register of Historic Places, all work must comply with the
Secretary
> > > of the Interior's Guidelines for Historic Rehabilitation.
> > >
> > >
> > > According to Architectural Review Board member Vesna Herman, the
planning
> > > phase for this project began in late 1996 when the State of
Connecticut,
> >in
> > > an effort to make the station more accessible to the disabled, propose
d a
> > > plan which included a bridge connecting the station's east and west
> > > platforms.
> > >
> > >
> > > Displeased with the proposal, Westport's Historic District Commission,
> > > Historical Society, and Architectural Review Board worked together to
> > > sponsor a design contest to try to find a different solution.
> > >
> > >
> > > The ARB selected a design that Herman described as "using minimal
> >additional
> > > structures but still complying with the ADA." With the altered design
came
> > > additional cost. The Town of Westport will be responsible for
$230,000,
> >1/3
> > > of the added cost. According to Second Selectman Leaman, this money
will
> >go
> > > toward higher quality material, like granite rather than concrete
steps,
> >and
> > > "higher quality workmanship."
> > >
> > >
> > > =================================
> > > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of
existing
> > > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
> > >
>

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

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