Transit Briefs: Amtrak, VPRA, MoDOT
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Amtrak has completed accessibility upgrades worth $20.8 million at its Bay Area, Calif., stations, in partnership with the cities of Martinez, Hayward, Fremont and Oakland. (Amtrak Photograph)
Amtrak debuts accessibility improvements at its four Bay Area, Calif., stations. Also, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Norfolk Southern (NS) discuss a new rail agreement; and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) advances the proposed St. Joseph-to-Kansas City passenger rail project.
Amtrak
Amtrak on June 4 reported completing accessibility upgrades worth $20.8 million at its Bay Area stations, in partnership with the cities of Martinez, Hayward, Fremont and Oakland.
Due largely to federal investments, Amtrak said improvements at the Martinez, Hayward, Fremont, and Oakland-Coliseum stations are part of its “commitment to creating safer, more accessible facilities across its National Network through its ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] Stations Program.” Amtrak since 2011 has invested more than $870 million in upgrades at 124 stations across the country.
Current Bay Area station upgrades include:
- Martinez Station: According to Amtrak, investments totaling $8.5 million were made at this station, which serves the Capitol Corridor, Amtrak San Joaquins, Coast Starlight and California Zephyr trains. Updates include a resurfaced platform with tactile warning surfaces along the edge to allow riders with vision disabilities to safely navigate the space. The station also offers an accessible path from the bus drop off, through the station and onto the platform, Amtrak reported. Additionally, riders can take advantage of renovated restrooms and a new ticket counter.
- Hayward Station: Investments totaling $5.6 million were made at this station, which serves Capitol Corridor trains. A new platform and a crossing to connect platforms are now available, according to Amtrak. The station also offers energy-efficient LED light fixtures and new signage to improve accessibility.
- Fremont Station: Investments totaling $4.2 million were made at this station, which serves Capitol Corridor trains. According to Amtrak, the station includes a new platform and additional space on the station-side platform where riders can access the track in both directions. The station also offers energy-efficient LED light fixtures and new signage to improve accessibility.
- Oakland-Coliseum Station: Investments totaling $2.5 million were made to this station, which serves Capitol Corridor trains. The design includes a resurfaced platform with tactile warning so riders with vision disabilities can safely navigate the space, according to Amtrak. Also included: signage, trash receptacles and pedestrian pathways that provide better access to the local community.
“We’re delivering a new era of rail while bringing greater accessibility to stations nationwide,” said Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera. “As we prioritize station accessibility throughout Amtrak, we are thrilled that these Bay Area stations can provide a welcoming and comfortable experience for all customers.”
“We applaud Amtrak’s ADA Project initiative to improve accessibility along the Capitol Corridor route,” Capitol Corridor Managing Director Robert Padgette said. “These efforts make it easier for passengers to navigate stations and platforms prior to boarding our trains and allows for a more inclusive travel experience.”
Amtrak on June 4 reported that 20 stations were brought into compliance with the ADA last year. Another 35 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year as “America’s Railroad” said it works toward 100% completion by 2029.
VPRA
VPRA is in preliminary discussions with NS to purchase the Manassas Line and to pursue an option to extend Amtrak intercity passenger rail service to the New River Valley on the NS main line (N-Line), VPRA reported June 4. While negotiations are in the early stages, VPRA said, the organizations “have established a mutually beneficial framework for both passenger and freight rail service.”
The purchase of the Manassas Line would allow VPRA to work with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to boost service frequencies on that line, including evening and weekend service. VRE currently offers eight commuter rail roundtrips on the freight railroad-hosted Manassas Line (see map, left) with stops at Broad Run, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre, Rolling Road, Backlick Road, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Washington Union Station.
VPRA also reported that “[a]fter receiving more information regarding the cost and timeframe for delivering [Amtrak] service along the Virginian Line—per a 2022 agreement with NS—VPRA revisited negotiations with NS to find a more cost-effective and timelier alternative on the N-Line. Extending [existing Amtrak] service [from Roanoke] to the New River Valley via the N-Line would allow VPRA to offer passenger rail service to NS’s Cambria Yard in Christiansburg, which served rail passengers from 1904 to 1979. It could potentially reduce the cost and accelerate VPRA’s plans to expand passenger rail service to the area. Following recent public outreach in the New River Valley that included surveys and public meetings, it became clear that service on the N-Line was also the preferred option for constituents there.”
“Recognizing the importance of determining the feasibility of the N-Line option, VPRA is advancing discussions with NS,” VPRA continued. “Those discussions are ongoing, and together with NS, VPRA will work expeditiously over the summer to complete the necessary evaluation of the N-Line option and Cambria Yard site.” The results of that evaluation and a recommended path forward are slated to be presented to the VPRA Board in August.
“VPRA exists to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail in the commonwealth, and with these negotiations, we are working toward that mission,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation and Board Chair of VPRA.
“We saw the numbers, the timeline, and listened to our stakeholders, and it became clear that if using the N-Line was a possibility, we had to pursue that,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “NS has been a great partner to VPRA as we’ve worked to reach more Virginians by rail, and we appreciate their efforts in aiding us in this endeavor.”
“We value our relationship with VPRA and appreciate the role the authority plays in advancing passenger rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” NS Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan said. “We look forward to continuing to partner on projects like this that stand to serve the interests of our communities while also balancing the needs of our freight customers and the economy we support.”
MoDOT
The consultancy of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly has been selected by MoDOT to complete a feasibility study on a proposed Amtrak line linking St. Joseph to Kansas City, Mo., including a connection with Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner route in St. Louis, News-Press NOW reported late last month.
“We anticipate their study will be completed sometime in spring 2025,” MoDOT spokesperson Jenna Keyes told the St. Joseph-based media outlet.
Funding for the study comes from a $500,000 grant that MoDOT was awarded in December 2023 through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development program.
“A passenger rail line connecting Kansas City to St. Joseph might make the commute easier for workers going between the cities,” New-Press NOW reported. “Data from the Kansas City Area Development Council shows that 2,048 people living in St. Joseph work in Kansas City, and 1,900 people who work in St. Joseph live in Kansas City.”
In a related development, the City Council of Peoria, Ill., has “set in motion” the Peoria to Chicago passenger rail plan, following its $500,000 award through the Corridor Identification and Development program.
