(rshsdepot) Johnstown, PA

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

Here are a couple of stories about the Johnstown, Pennsylvania  station.  The 
first is from The Tribune-Democrat and the second The  Associated Press.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
    City  looks to revitalize train station



BY MIKE FAHER The Tribune-Democrat  
When officials discuss economic development in Johnstown, the city’s  train 
station is rarely mentioned. But with a new Amtrak initiative, as  well as a 
recent jump in Johnstown ridership, that could be changing.  
Officials have begun discussing the potential revitalization of the  
91-year-old structure along Walnut Street, although there are no firm  plans at this 
point. “I think it has a lot of potential,” City Manager  Curt Davis said.  
Davis and other city leaders attended a Pittsburgh meeting convened by  
Amtrak earlier this month. The rail company invited officials from five  states to 
take part in an initiative dubbed “Great American Stations.”  
It was only the second such meeting in the nation, and it featured  “case 
studies” from communities that have successfully upgraded their rail  facilities. 
 
“While Amtrak today serves more passengers than at any time in its  history, 
too many of America’s passenger rail stations – most not owned by  Amtrak – 
are falling into disrepair,” President and CEO Alex Kummant said  in a 
statement.  
Amtrak is offering technical expertise, and administrators say they are  
trying to jump-start conversations about station revitalization.  
“We’re really trying to facilitate information-sharing,” Amtrak  spokesman 
Marc Magliari said.  
Johnstown’s privately owned station is considered an architectural gem.   
“We have tried to facilitate development,” said Richard Burkert,  Johnstown 
Area Heritage Association executive director. “We see that as a  really 
important piece of property in Johnstown.”  
As recently as 1996, several governmental agencies led a renovation  project 
at the station.  
The structure is not in poor physical shape, but officials say the  building 
is underused.  
In particular, passengers no longer use the spacious former waiting  room, 
which features a ceiling that is more than two stories high. At one  point, an 
investor had considered a restaurant there, but the idea  fizzled.  
There are other potential assets near the station. Parking is  available, and 
the heritage association’s Festival Park is just down the  street.  
The association has used the station as a lounge during the annual  FolkFest. 
 
“With the Festival Park over there, we’re hoping to bring more  attention to 
that part of town,” Burkert said.  
Increasing ridership also is spurring interest.  
The station hosted 17,368 riders in fiscal year 2007, a 9 percent  increase 
from the previous year.  
Johnstown’s ridership ranks higher than a number of other stations,  
including Greensburg, Erie and Latrobe.  
“That kind of surprised us,” Davis said.  
Still, it remains unclear what improvements – if any – might happen in  
Johnstown. One member of the station’s city-based ownership group, S.F.B.  Co., 
referred questions to another business partner, who could not be  reached for 
comment.  
And, though ridership is up, the city still is served by only one train  
eastbound and westbound daily. That leads some to speculate that rail  travel is 
only a small part of the station’s potential future.  
“You’re going to have to develop that as part of the larger  neighborhood,” 
Burkert said.       
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Johnstown may revitalize train station due to increased riders  
12/31/2007, 7:44 a.m. ET The Associated Press  
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Johnstown officials say they may revitalize the  city`s 
91-year-old train station after encouragement from Amtrak and a  recent 
increase in passengers.  
City Manager Curt Davis says city officials were spurred to consider  fixing 
up the station after attending a meeting hosted by Amtrak earlier  this month. 
Amtrak officials say the railroad is serving more passengers  than ever, but 
that train stations — most of which Amtrak does not own —  are falling into 
disrepair.  
Johnstown officials say some have questioned spending money on the  station 
because too few people use it. But the station served 17,368  riders in fiscal 
2007, a 9 percent increase over the year before.  



**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes 
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

=================================
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 #1653
********************************

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