[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
(rshsdepot) Lancaster, PA
From the Intelligencer Journal.
Bernie Wagenblast
Station Work on Fast Track
Station work on fast track City Amtrak site upgrades to be done by 2010
By P.J. REILLY, Staff Intelligencer Journal
Published: Oct 18, 2007 2:53 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - Efforts to boost train ridership through Lancaster
have succeeded, but long-sought work to modernize the train station has lagged.
County planners hope that situation is about to change.
Efforts to renovate Lancaster city`s Amtrak station have been moving at a
snail`s pace over the past decade.
But county planners believe the end of the prework preparation is in sight.
Construction is expected to begin next summer, with passengers entering new
facilities at the North Duke Street station in 2010.
Wednesday, the county planning commission won approval from the county
commissioners to allow Lancaster County Transportation Authority to spend $88,695
for preconstruction work on the project. The authority is overseeing this
phase of the project.
The money, which will come from the county`s general fund, is earmarked for a
consultant who will review all of the engineering and architectural plans
for the project to make sure everything meets state, federal and Amtrak
guidelines before bids are solicited at the end of this year to do the physical
work.
``This is a very complicated project, with all the entities involved,`` said
James Cowhey, executive director of the planning commission. ``We want to
make sure the plans and documents are accurate now, rather than find out down
the road that there`s a problem.``
Proposed renovations to the 80-year-old city Amtrak station include shops,
restaurants, new Amtrak offices, expanded parking, a separate waiting area for
bus passengers, upgrades to the heating and air conditioning systems and
realignment of the station driveway to meet North Duke Street.
Those renovations have long been sought by local and state officials.
Earlier this year, Amtrak ridership statistics showed a nearly 18 percent
increase in passengers using the Lancaster station since additional trains were
added to the Keystone line last October.
Last year, more than 368,000 passengers arrived at or departed from the
Lancaster station.
It was the second-busiest stop on the Keystone line, behind Philadelphia but
ahead of Harrisburg.
Dave Royer, the county planning commission`s chief transportation planner,
said the renovation work at the station is expected to begin next summer. Once
it starts, work will take about two years.
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
To Unsubscribe: http://lists.railfan.net/rshsdepot-photo/unsub.html
------------------------------
End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1618
********************************
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org