(rshsdepot) Morganton, NC

["Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

From the Charlotte Observer

Bernie Wagenblast
Transportation Communications Newsletter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications/

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Depot in line for a new life
Morganton station to be renovated
HEATHER HOWARD
Staff Writer

The long-vacant Morganton train depot is a step closer to getting back on
track.

City and state officials last week approved a construction bid for
renovation of the century-old South Green Street structure, which is being
refurbished as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation's effort to
restore passenger rail service between Salisbury and Asheville.

The department plans to build new train stations in Asheville and Valdese
and renovate depots in Morganton, Hickory, Statesville, Black Mountain, Old
Fort and Marion. Federal funds are paying for 80 percent of the costs, with
10 percent to be funded by the state and 10 percent by municipalities,
officials said.

Last week, the Morganton City Council awarded a construction bid of $629,744
to Wilkie Construction Co. of Lenoir for restoration of the Morganton depot.
The transportation department also approved the bid.

The Morganton restoration will run just under $1 million, City Manager Sally
Sandy said. The city will pay about $35,000 of that, Sandy said. Developer
Clark Erwin, who is refurbishing the Nite Furniture property near the depot,
is kicking in about $47,000 toward the city's 10 percent, she said.

Built in the 1880s, the Morganton station has mostly gone unused since
passenger rail service to Morganton shut down in the early 1970s.

The simple box-like structure, which is about 1,200 square feet, will be
restored to resemble its appearance in the mid-1910s, with siding and a
refurbished porch around the building. The depot will house a bathroom.

Although no ticket sales will take place at the Morganton depot, passengers
will be able to board or get off the train there, Sandy said. Passengers
will be able to buy tickets on board, over the phone or Internet or at other
stations.

State transportation officials don't know yet when they'll be able to
restore passenger service to the area, said Julia Hegele, marketing manager
for the transportation department's rail division. There are still track
repairs to be made, and the shaky economy has meant round after round of
state belt-tightening.

But the restorations will spruce up vacant depots or former stations that
now house chambers of commerce, museums and other organizations, she said.
Transportation officials plan to kick off the refurbishing of the Morganton,
Marion and Old Fort stations next month, Hegele said.

Morganton would welcome a revival of passenger rail through town, Sandy
said. But the restoration of the depot will also help boost other downtown
refurbishment efforts -- particularly the Nite project, which will house
residential, retail and restaurant space, she said.

"I think the key to the depot renovation for us is that we have a major
renovation going on (nearby)," she said. "The two projects obviously feed
off of each other."

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Heather Howard: (828) 324-0055; hhoward_@_charlotteobserver.com

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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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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #708
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org