MERCED, CALIF.—Volunteers from this San Joaquin Valley community recently worked together to beautify the town’s train station by planting a colorful variety of drought-resistant flowers and shrubs. Amtrak contributed funding for the needed materials. The Merced station is located about four blocks northeast of Courthouse Square Park. Inspired by Arts and Crafts design, the depot was constructed in 2000 using funds provided through the Rail Program of the California Department of Transportation. Councilman Michael Belluomini initiated the project because “For some of the tourists – visitors to Merced – the Amtrak station is the first or last thing that they see…so we want to leave or give a good impression.”
Read more about the landscaping project in the Modesto Bee.
Amtrak established the Great American Stations Project in 2006 to educate communities on the benefits of redeveloping train stations, offer tools to community leaders to preserve their stations, and provide the appropriate Amtrak resources.
Amtrak is America’s Railroad®, the nation’s intercity passenger rail service and its high-speed rail operator. More than 31.7 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2017 on more than 300 daily trains that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Choose the smarter way to travel at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.