$2.1M in upgrades planned for train station
New entrance, bus loop part of plan
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New entrance, bus
LEWISTOWN -- Lewistown Junction Train Station is in line for a facelift, an investment that railroad and county officials say could help to move more passengers through the region while modernizing a critical gateway in the state.
Design plans for the 174-year-old train station focus mainly on the waiting area, which is expected to receive more
passengers once the new
service is in place.
The waiting area's main entrance would be relocated, and the existing restrooms would be expanded to a family restroom and possibly relocated, according to design options.
The proposed expansion, at least a $2.125 million project, calls for a transformation of the station in 2025. Amtrak's new Airo train is scheduled to start service in 2026 as the number of trips on the Pennsylvanian line will double daily.
While the work was announced by Amtrak in its five-year service and asset line plans, which started in 2022 and runs through 2027, there are multiple agencies involved, including the non-profit Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society which owns the station structure and parking lots; Norfolk Southern Railway, owner of the platform; and Amtrak, which is responsible for meeting American Disabilities Act requirements.
Amtrak documents provided by Mark Spada, president of the Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail (WPPR), indicate design work for the Lewistown station will begin this year and continue into 2024, with construction to start in 2025.
The cost of the design work is $300,000, while construction costs are budgeted at $2.125 million.
Spada admits WPPR isn't always updated by the agencies involved, stating, "I don't know if that's still the schedule or specifically what the renovations will include."
WPPR is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2011. "Since 2011, we have worked to ensure that the state of Pennsylvania assumed management of the Pennsylvanian, the train service between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, as required under PRIIA (Pennsylvania Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008), and to advocate for additional train service on the Pennsylvanian.
"We are interested in passenger rail's ability to connect western Pennsylvanians with other nearby cities and regions and reduce their dependence on automobiles, alleviating climate change and improving air quality for all," he added.
Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish said this much-anticipated development has been a dream for many years.
"Thanks to this expansion, Mifflin County will have increased access to modern, safe and reliable passenger rail service," Kodish explained. "Quality passenger rail service truly connects Pennsylvania communities and helps to bring jobs, produce economic development and spark infrastructure investment along with it."
A 2020 study completed for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation about Lewistown sheds some light on possible options. However, design plans include several options and PennDOT is mulling over possible outcomes.
Site plans also indicate that bus service could be impacted at the station. Two of three plans add a proposed bus loop, allowing buses to enter and exit the station more easily. A third option reconfigures the existing parking lot, integrating the loop as part of the lot.
With all three options, an existing shed would be relocated to the other side of the station and a waiting building and canopy for bus passengers would be added. Proposed parking lots, which would be available on both sides of the station, would hold nearly three dozen vehicles.
"If our local station receives substantial upgrades along with possible bus service, that will be an incredible win for our area," Kodish added. "Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels round-trip between New York City and Pittsburgh once daily.
"The new agreement that Norfolk Southern and PennDOT entered into supports increasing those Pennsylvanian passenger services to twice a day," he added.
Kodish said the expansion is another spoke in the wheel of an improved quality of life for residents in the Juniata Valley. This will help in terms of future community development and foster long-term prosperity. "Every improvement we can make - large or small - increases our profile and makes us more attractive to visitors and our own residents," Kodish said.
He also believes passenger rail service promotes tourism by providing convenient access to popular destinations. Additionally, it can encourage cultural exchange by facilitating travel between communities with diverse cultures and attractions. "Many people from here enjoy taking the train to Philadelphia, New York City, Pittsburgh and Chicago," Kodish added. "Increasing the options for our local travels is a big plus."
Design plans can be viewed at www.wpprrail.org.