(rshsdepot) Beacon, NY

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

Train station plans greeted warmly
60 turn out to view Beacon proposals
By Michelle J. Lee
Poughkeepsie Journal



BEACON -- The city's train station could get a glamorous makeover complete 
with a new transportation plaza, three-story garage and ''gateway'' building 
under a new long-term plan.

More than 60 spectators crowded into the Rivers and Estuaries Center on 
Tuesday night to view the new designs, which include elements from two plans 
unveiled in November 2002.

More than 1,800 people use the Beacon station per day, said Randall 
Fleischer, Metro-North's director of business development and facilities.

While the plan isn't funded, community support could lead to federal or 
private backing, Dutchess County Metro-North board member James Sedore said.

''I think it's a good design. They have a lot of public area,'' Town of 
Poughkeepsie resident Paul Rinaldi said.

''It's an improvement over what's there and a nice way to finish the 
waterfront,'' he said.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is working on a short-term, $10.5 
million plan to add 365 parking spaces, a new entrance from Beekman Street 
and lights, sidewalks and landscaping.

Under the long-term design, a new three-story garage would bring the parking 
total to about 1,800 spots. The garage would be tucked away in a natural 
hill to blend in the the landscape and the roof will have gardens.

The second phase would reclaim part of the existing parking lot and turn it 
into recreational land with access to the waterfront. The outdoor parking 
lot would be reconfigured to create a circular drop-off center for buses, 
taxis, bikes and other forms of transportation.

The third phase includes a new ''gateway'' building over the train tracks 
that could have a ticket counter, waiting room, information kiosks and 
tourist office. A final phase leaves some open space outside the station for 
possible private development.

Additional entryways to the train station would be created to alleviate 
traffic problems. Beacon and the county also plan to link the new Beekman 
Street entrance to the rest of the city businesses and sites on Main Street.

Praise from Steinhaus

''I believe this will serve as a class-A model on how you do community 
development around a river, in a city and how you integrate 
mass-transportation and riverfront development,'' County Executive William 
Steinhaus said.

''I'm glad they're thinking green. That's why I moved here,'' said Nora 
Cofresi, a Beacon resident who commutes daily to Manhattan.

Cofresi hoped the station could work as a hook to lure visitors to Main 
Street. One of more than 550 people on a parking space waiting list, she 
also hoped parking space preferences could be given to Beacon residents.

Serge Young, another Beacon resident, was also concerned a larger parking 
lot might lead to more traffic in the city and on the Newburgh-Beacon 
Bridge.

But overall, Young, an architect, said he approved of the design, 
particularly the waterfront redevelopment.

''I think there are some pretty interesting ideas,'' he said. ''It's 
ambitious and I'd be shocked if it happens.''

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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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