3)
Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station Upgrade
OBJECTIVE:
Reconstruct the Saratoga Springs train station to improve its
functionality for intercity travel, establish Saratoga Springs as a terminal for
tourist trains, and provide access to demonstration commuter services.
PROJECT
JUSTIFICATION: The new Saratoga Springs Train Station is an
integral part of several larger plans and economic revitalization efforts. The City of Saratoga Springs adopted the
West Side Master Plan and Action plan in December 1997. In conjunction with a federal-aid project to
redesign and reconstruct West Avenue, a revitalized station will be a focal
point for this new neighborhood commercial district.
Revitalization of the train station is
also integral to the success of other larger scale plans and programs. Amtrak provides daily passenger service from
New York City to Albany and Montreal.
Saratoga Springs is a scheduled stop.
A rejuvenated train station would be attractive to train travelers and
increase the desirability of train travel through the Saratoga Springs Station.
The project will also accommodate the
development of the Saratoga to Corinth to North Creek rail line as a scenic
tourism run. The plan, discussed as
REVEST element #8, will include refurbishment of the line all the way to North
Creek, a major tourism destination point for hikers, skiers and recreational
enthusiasts.
DESIGN/SCOPE:
The project will include replacement of the Saratoga Springs Train
Station with a new facility consistent with the West Side Master Plan. In addition to station work, site
improvements including sanitary sewer connections and track modifications will
be made.
The current facility is owned and
operated by the Delaware & Hudson Railway, a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific
Railway, as an active facility supporting their existing maintenance of way
operations, as well as Amtrak operations.
The new facility will be publicly owned, and negotiations are underway
regarding the potential for relocating the freight maintenance facility. In addition, the D&H may be interested
in relocating its administrative offices to the site.
BUDGET:
The total cost, including design and construction is estimated at
$5,000,000.
|
Table 1 - Project Financial
Requirements |
|
|
Sitework |
$1,850,000 |
|
Trackwork |
$750,000 |
|
Station |
$1,000,000 |
|
Office
Building |
$1,000,000 |
|
Engineering
and Administration |
$400,000 |
|
|
$5,000,000 |
|
Table 2 -Project Revenue |
|
|
Secured
Funds |
|
|
Federal
Demonstration Funds |
$2,880,000 |
|
|
$2,880,000 |
|
|
|
|
Funding
gap |
$2,120,000 |
STATUS/SCHEDULE:
The environmental review process for the project has been initiated and
will take 3-6 months to complete. During
that time, matters of land acquisition and site occupancy will be
resolved. Once cleared, the station
upgrade itself will take approximately 12 months to design and 14 months to
build. The sketch shown in this outline
represents the preferred alternative for environmental review purposes.
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: Capital District Transportation
Authority
Contact
Person: Kristina Younger, CDTA Manager of
Planning, 518-482-4199.
Partner
Agencies:
City of Saratoga Springs; CPR/D&H; National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak).
Proposed Master Plan Layout of Saratoga Springs Station and Property