Great Lakes Passenger Station Improvement Project Funding Request

[Jeff Smith]

$$$: Neo-Trans.blog

Amtrak seeks $300m for Great Lakes-area stations

Cleveland and other Northern Ohio cities would gain new, larger train stations from a program proposed by passenger railroad Amtrak to improve its intercity services here. The program, a five-year, $300 million Great Lakes Stations Improvement initiative, represents the first time in Amtrak’s 53-year history that it has pursued such an aggressive development effort for this region and specifically for the Cleveland-Chicago route.

In its fiscal year 2025 budget request to Congress, Amtrak spelled out a number of capital improvement programs it wants in order to improve service, safety and efficiency. Amtrak ridership is, so far in fiscal year 2024 (started Oct. 1), exceeding its record high achieved in pre-pandemic 2019. The capital improvements are part of its plan to double its ridership nationwide by the end of 2040.

To do that, Amtrak’s existing trains must become more reliable and faster. And they need to serve more comfortable stations that are better connected with local, regional and other intercity transportation providers like Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) buses and trains, Greyhound, GoBus and Barons Bus. Amtrak says its Great Lakes Stations Improvement program can help accomplish all of those goals.
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