(rshsdepot) Fredericksburg, VA

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From the Free Lance-Star.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
TRAIN STATION REPAIR PLANS MOVING AHEAD 
 
Design firm to tackle downtown Fredericksburg train-station repair  
Date published: 8/22/2008  
By KELLY HANNON  
A project to repair the Fredericksburg train station is forging ahead.  
``We have all the money in hand now, and we can finally move forward,`` said  
Mark Roeber, manager of government relations and public affairs for Virginia  
Railway Express, which is managing the repair job.  
The VRE Operations Board has approved a contract with STV/RWA Rail Design for 
 $134,800. The firm will help VRE decide how $2.6 million in federal money 
for  station repairs can be stretched to accomplish as much as possible, Roeber 
said.  
Last summer, VRE paid an engineering firm $50,000 to assess the station`s  
condition.  
The firm concluded the elevated, concrete structure that carries Amtrak and  
VRE passengers trains was safe, but needed an overhaul.  
The engineering firm showed repair alternatives ranging from $900,000 to $5.3 
 million. The larger figure would pay for a complete refurbishment of the 
bridge,  but VRE does not have that much money to spend.  
Fredericksburg`s train station has multiple overpasses crossing Sophia,  
Caroline, Princess Anne and Charles streets. Pedestrians and motorists have  
complained about falling debris from the underbelly of the structures.  
The overpasses were built like viaducts, with ballast and train tracks laid  
into them. There is only one central draining point for water, and that system 
 has become clogged. Trapped water freezing and thawing has damaged the 
concrete,  along with sidewalks below.  
CSX Corp. owns the train bridge.  
Next spring, VRE hopes to at least unclog the drainage system.  
However, City Manager Phillip Rodenberg said repairs are needed to the  
station platform as well as the overpasses.  
The Amtrak platform--opposite from the VRE platform--is in ``terrible  
condition,`` Rodenberg said, and needs to be resurfaced.  
``There are many repairs that are needed that will stretch beyond the dollars 
 available,`` Rodenberg said.  
VRE continues to seek partnerships to pay for repairs, Roeber said.  
But VRE complimented the city for making cosmetic improvements to the station 
 whenever possible, such as painting and cleaning up filth and debris.  
Whenever there`s a passenger complaint, ``they come in and rectify it and  
clean it up,`` Roeber said. 



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