(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on July 21, 2010.)
Amtrak is offering guidance on station development to communities in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin where new state-supported Amtrak service is slated to begin in the next three years.
As part of the Great American Stations Project, Amtrak is hosting local and state leaders to discuss the development of stations on planned routes from Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa, via Rockford, Ill.; from Chicago to Iowa City, via the Illinois-Iowa Quad Cities; and from Chicago to Madison, Wis., via Milwaukee.
During a meeting to be held tomorrow, Amtrak will discuss real estate and railroad relationship issues, station design and staffing matters, and provide technical advice, including understanding how to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Helping communities understand development issues is necessary because Amtrak does not own the majority of the stations it serves, Amtrak officials said in a prepared statement.