The City of Ann Arbor is looking for a place to build a
new Amtrak station. Anyone who has parked on the grass in the current station's overflowing lot before hauling suitcases over the Broadway St. bridge has a pretty good idea of why.
"There are a number of drawbacks to the current station," says Eli Cooper, the City of Ann Arbor's transportation program manager. "We've also found that the waiting room can only accommodate 60 or so passengers, when Amtrak currently gets about 100 or so per train."
The eight possible sites recently presented for public feedback follow the railroad tracks from as far north as Huron River Dr. past Bird Rd. and as far south as Geddes and Huron Pkwy. Cooper says the new station could possibly include a cafe, museum or other unique amenities in addition to features that would improve accessibility for visitors and multimodal travelers, as well as improve the quality and comfort of the station.
"We have the ability to include discretionary items that could make the new station a place to be celebrated, as opposed to a place one might have to endure," Cooper says. "I think it's really going to create a buzz in this part of the country."
Cooper expects a site to be selected and environmental reviews to be completed by the end of 2014. A vote for the new station could take place in 2015 or 2016, with the soonest possible completion date for a new station in 2018. While total project costs are currently uncertain, Cooper anticipates $20 to $30 million or more will be invested in the station.
Source: Eli Cooper, City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Natalie Burg
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