Washington, DC
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) –
The Union Station project in downtown Springfield is a nearly $90 million project that was put in the spotlight Monday morning.
City, state, and federal leaders gathered to discuss the future of Union Station, which is set to open in the fall of 2016.
Union Station closed its doors in 1973. Now, with the help of state and federal money, the station will re-open in just over a year.
During Monday’s press conference, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced that the state has secured the final $12 million needed to complete the project.
“This is the beginning of a longer conversation about what the transportation needs are in order for the economy to continue to grow in the greater Springfield area,” Polito said.
Union Station and U.S. Representative Richard Neal have a long history together. Neal first announced his candidacy for Springfield’s city council from the station’s steps in 1977. At that time, he promised to re-open the facility.
Neal said he can’t wait to see that come to fruition nearly four decades later.
“And I hope the inspiration what we’re doing here will add to additional public and moreso private investment in the area. The public side of this is coming to a conclusion and now, we need some private investment,” Neal explained.
For Neal, Union Station brings him back to when he was a child. He said he used to visit the building with his grandmother, who lived just up the road.
“The nostalgia is clearly the military presence. Anyday that you were here, you would have seen men and women from Korea, Vietnam and even older veterans that were returning to reunions,” Neal added.
With more than a dozen new train times between Hartford and Springfield expected, and with destinations coming to Springfield like the MGM casino, local leaders like Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the station will serve a key role in the revitalization of the city.
“This not only will be a regional transportation hub. It will also be economic development. It will anchor our North End area moving forward,” Sarno said.
Congressman Neal said a new study should be out in the near future, detailing the feasibility of train travel between the east and west parts of the state. He noted that that should come in very handy should Boston win the 2024 Olympic bid.
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