1) Rensselaer Amtrak Station Project

 

OBJECTIVE:  Rebuild the 10th busiest Amtrak Station in the country in a manner that will stimulate the regional economy and be integrated with the local community.

 

AMTRAK track and station conceptual designPROJECT JUSTIFICATION:

 

The need and benefits of the Rensselaer Intermodal Station project have been well documented through CDTA's efforts in re-cent years. This pro-ject has the highest regional priority of all REVEST elements, as reflected by CDTC's recommendations in its New Visions regional plan and in its funding assignments in the 1999-2004 Text Box: Track and Station Conceptual DesignTransportation Improvement Program (TIP).

 

The Capital District Transportation Authority has been working with its partners -- the City and County of Rensselaer, the New York State Department of Transportation and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to develop the Rensselaer Amtrak Station into a project that serves the strategic transportation terminal and contributes to urban revitalization.  This project recognizes the station as a regional transportation asset that can make a significant contribution to the Rensselaer City and County economy.  As the 10th busiest station on the Amtrak system, the project builds on investments by the State of New York in track and locomotive upgrades for high-speed service between the Capital Region and New York City.  The Rensselaer Station also serves a gateway function, with key connections to Western New York, Vermont, and Canada.

 

DESIGN/SCOPE: The project includes:

 

1.       Construction of a new train station just south of the existing train station. This will include retail space for hospitality and travel related businesses.  This project component is about one-third complete.

2.       Replacement of the Herrick Street Bridge for autos and pedestrians to improve access to the site and reconnect the city now divided by the railroad tracks.  This project component is 90% designed, with construction anticipated in the 2000 construction season.

3.       Replacement of track at the site to accommodate high-level platforms.  This improves the safety of the service since customers will not be required to cross tracks to board trains.  This project component is 40% designed and scheduled for 2000/2001 construction.

4.       Construction of a 650-car parking garage at the site in addition to providing surface parking for 450 cars.  This will improve the safety and security of train station users.  The parking garage is currently under construction.

 

Of all the REVEST elements, the Rensselaer Amtrak Station project is furthest along in development and the region's highest priority to complete.

 

Artist rendering of station

Artist's Rendering of Station

 

 

BUDGET:  This project is estimated to cost  $48 million. 

 

Table 1 - Project Financial Requirements

Trackwork

 $   10,000,000

Station

 $   15,000,000

Bridge

 $     5,000,000

Parking garage

 $   13,000,000

Engineering and Administration

 $     5,000,000

 

 $   48,000,000

 

 

Table 2 -Project Revenue

 

Federal Section 3 funds – 1996

 $     7,500,000

Federal Section 3 funds – 1998

 $     1,875,000

Federal Section 5309 –1999

 $     1,000,000

Federal Section 5309 –2000

 $     6,000,000

State Transit Aid

 $     1,171,875

State Intermodal Fund

 $     1,200,000

State Rail Fund

 $     2,000,000

State Funds

 $     2,000,000

Federal ISTEA funds (TIP)

 $     9,737,000

 

 $   32,483,875

 

 

Funding Gap

 $   15,516,125

 

 

To date the Capital District Transportation Authority has received commitments for about $32.5 million of the project cost.  This has been made available largely through the assistance of the region's congressional and legislative delegation and action by CDTC.

 

STATUS/SCHEDULE: The Capital District Transportation Authority is in the final stages of design.  The project is well under construction.  CDTA has established a strong record of contract awards to local contractors and to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises through the construction management process to date.  Amtrak crews completed the relocation of the "Post Road" branch track.  Additional track work, including a new bypass track is scheduled for the 2000 construction season.  The project is "on track" for substantial construction work throughout 2000, with project completion in early 2001.

 

RESPONSIBLE AGENCY:  Capital District Transportation Authority

 

Contact Person: Jack Reilly, CDTA Deputy Director, 518-482-4199.

 

Partner Agencies: New York State Department of Transportation; Rensselaer County; City of Rensselaer; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).