Washington, DC
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — Today, local and federal officials got an inside look at the Union Station rehabilitation project.
The transportation hub is in its last stages of construction and is expected to open in the fall.
Officials discussed their vision for Union Station and not just in the short term. They’re also thinking long term – about 40 years from now.
Patrick Kidd, communication specialist for Amtrak, has high hopes for the facility as he toured the site with city leaders and got a better picture of what the $88 million project will look like when it’s all done.
“You have the space that is flexible, so you can do all sort of things with it,” Kidd said.
Kidd is also with Amtrak’s Great American Stations initiative.
While the space is much smaller than other stations across America, the opportunities for Springfield are endless.
“People may have not come down here in a while. The station gives them a destination to see what’s here, explore restaurants and businesses,” Kidd explained,
Congressman Richard Neal said that this project has been a long time coming.
“There’s a great deal of interest now in real transportation and for me,” Neal said.
However, Neal has always had one goal.
“My vision has been to restore it to it’s valor on it’s 90th birth and to remind people of not just the history, but of the role this station will play,” Neal added.
Union Station is expected to have 16 trains running south and 12 running north. There are hopes to have routes run along an east and west corridor.
Copyright 2016 Western Mass News (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
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