Communities Revving Up for New Passenger Rail Service Receive Guidance from Amtrak on Station Development
Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin leaders meet with Amtrak experts
CHICAGO – Amtrak is offering its expert guidance on station development to communities in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin where new state-supported Amtrak service is planned to begin in the next three years. As a part of its Great American Stations Project, Amtrak is hosting local and state leaders in a Civic Conversation with a special focus on the development of stations on planned Chicago routes to Dubuque, Iowa, via Rockford, Ill.; to Iowa City, via the Illinois-Iowa Quad Cities; and to Madison, Wisc., via Milwaukee.
Some of these communities have not had passenger rail service since early and mid 1970’s, while others were last served in 1981. Some of their former passenger rail stations still stand, but many other stations were converted to other uses or have been demolished.
During the meeting this Thursday, July 22, Amtrak will discuss real estate and railroad relationship issues, station design and staffing matters and provide other technical expertise, including understanding how to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, representatives from both large and small communities will explain how they successfully shepherded their station projects through the design, funding and construction phases.
Helping communities understand station development issues is essential, as Amtrak does not own the majority of stations it serves. Of the 529 stops on Amtrak’s current schedule, nearly 33 percent of stations are owned by cities, 27 percent by the freight or host railroads over whose tracks Amtrak trains travel, and 27 percent by Amtrak (primarily on the largely Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor). Private parties own another 8 percent, and the remaining 5 percent are owned by other entities, such as port authorities, commuter railroads, or transit agencies.
The GreatAmericanStations.com website also enables an exchange of information and provides a point of initial contact to develop partnerships in an initiative to renovate and revitalize stations. The website spotlights the success of station projects and includes descriptions of stations along the routes in the 46-state Amtrak network.
Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin have plans to use state and/or federal funds to begin new service to be operated by Amtrak. Illinois and Wisconsin have been Amtrak partners since 1971 and 1989, respectively, and Iowa could become the 16th state to have Amtrak state-supported intercity passenger rail service.
Attendees at the Civic Conversation in Chicago will be welcomed by Thomas Carper, Amtrak board chairman, and Joseph McHugh, Amtrak Vice President, Government Affairs and Corporate Communications. Amtrak has hosted similar meetings in the past three years in Denver, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, Savannah and San Antonio.
About Amtrak
As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day—at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph)—to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the partner of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for several commuter rail agencies. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.
