Amtrak, along with the town of Brattleboro, Vt., the state of Vermont, and NECR Railroad, are in talks over the feasibility of building a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant station in Brattleboro.
The proposed facility would feature a new station building, the first level boarding platform in Vermont, and track changes. Additional ADA-compliant amenities include parking, ramps, and steps up to the platform level, lights, signage, a new waiting room with an attached restroom, and covered outdoor seating.
“Vermont’s weather presents challenges to travelers all year round. Amtrak’s investment in an ADA accessible platform and station will ensure that all rail passengers in Brattleboro will have a safe, warm, welcoming place to wait for and board the train. In our rural state, passenger rail represents a vital link for Vermonters and tourists alike. This new station in one of the gateways to Vermont will be a worthy addition to our transportation system,” said U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
The announcement comes when Amtrak has asked Congress for an additional $4.9 billion in emergency funding to stay afloat. In late-October, Amtrak CEO William Flynn testified before a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee that the company would see at least a 72 percent reduction in ridership in 2021.
Flynn said that without drastic cuts to schedules and staffing, the railroad would burn through $250 million a month in cash and that the company was on a path to insolvency if it continued in that way.
The new station, if approved, would continue to feature a staffed attendant within an hour of a train’s departure or arrival time. The station will also feature a bike rack and covered outdoor space. The Vermonter line is financed primarily through the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Connecticut Department of Transportation, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation funds.