Amtrak recently completed its $3.2 million station upgrade project in Gastonia, N.C.
“Making our stations accessible to all customers is a priority, and we’re actively performing construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across our national network,” Dr. David Handera, Amtrak vice president of stations, facilities, and accessibility, said. “We want Gastonia and all of our stations to be a welcoming and comfortable environment to all of our customers.”
Work included a new concrete platform with lighting, guardrails, and signage; waiting room renovations; a renovated and power-operated door entrance in the station; an accessible restroom; new lighting; replacing the station building heating and cooling system; and a paved parking lot with an entrance driveway and two accessible parking spaces for customers who use wheeled mobility devices.
Work was completed with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the city of Gastonia.
The project was part of Amtrak’s Americans with Disabilities Act Stations Program. The program brought 20 stations into compliance last fiscal year for $96 million. This fiscal year, 39 stations will be completed for an estimated $165 million.
The program has funded 129 station designs and 40 station construction projects.
Amtrak has completed work at 108 stations where Amtrak is responsible for being fully compliant.