(rshsdepot) Ocala, FL

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From the Ocala Business Journal.
 
Link to original story and photo at:
_http://www.ocala.com/article/20080908/OBIZ/809080227/-1/NEWS&title=Piece_of_O
cala_history_serves_as_transit_hub_ 
(http://www.ocala.com/article/20080908/OBIZ/809080227/-1/NEWS&title=Piece_of_Ocala_history_serves_as_transit_hub) 
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Piece of Ocala history serves as transit hub
 

Published: Monday, September 8, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. 
Last Modified:  Monday, September 8, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. 
TELL US ABOUT THIS WORK SPACE.
 

AT THE CROSSROADS
 
BRUCE ACKERMAN/OCALA BUSINESS JOURNAL 
 

IN THE OFFICE Ocala Union Station 
ADDRESS: 531 N.E. First Ave.,  Ocala
PHONE: 629-8231 (City Community Programs Department)
WEB SITE: _http://www.ocalafl.org_ (http://www.ocalafl.org) 
 
TELL US ABOUT THIS WORK SPACE.
 
JIM SIMON, CITY OF OCALA: Four tenants have offices here: Greyhound Bus  
Lines; Amtrak, which is subleasing to Shuttleliner Corp.; and the Ocala Police  
Department which operates a substation. Dee Dee's Dog House occupies the  
adjacent "Bolt" Building, part of the complex. In addition, the complex serves  as 
the central hub of the SunTran bus system.
 
WHAT'S THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS BUILDING?
 
The station was built in 1918 and renovated in 1999.
 
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS LOCATION IS IMPORTANT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF  
OCALA/MARION COUNTY?
 
Paul Nugent's vision in helping get the renovation done, through a State  
Dept. of Transportation grant, was that the complex would serve as a multimodal  
transportation hub for the community.
 
The addition of Greyhound, then SunTran, to the existing Amtrak service  
helped solidify this concept. When Amtrak decided to "unman" its location (the  
station still operates as an Amtrak hub through Amtrak's motor coach service) it 
 provided an opportunity to add Shuttleliner, providing hourly shuttle 
service to  Orlando International Airport. This further solidifies the Station's 
role as a  central transit hub for the entire community. The remodeling in 2000 
of the Bolt  Building to add a restaurant to the complex offers a service to 
the travelers  and the surrounding downtown and North Magnolia business 
community.
 
ARE THERE PLANS TO FURTHER RENOVATE OR EXPAND THE FACILITY?
 
No.
 



**************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, 
plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.      
(http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)

=================================
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

------------------------------