DANVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – The town of Danville is hopping on a million dollar train to the future. A construction plan for their century-old train station is slated to be completed this summer.
There’s long standing plan to turn Danville’s one hundred fifty year old train station into a community hub.
“I am going to get an E-Bike and I’m going to ride my bike on the rail trail. It would be really nice to have a place where people could stop and, and I don’t know. Get a coffee, get some water. Really great idea.” said Karen Lewis of Peacham.
And that’s the goal: to return the building to its former glory.
“I think it is two fold. When this train station was put in, it became something that brought the community together.” said Michael Hogue of the Danville Train Station Committee.
The million dollar construction project has already begun with the goal of bringing more people to the town, and to Danville’s section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
“Bringing in the riders, the bikers, the parents. Spend money on recreation, restaurants, probably short term rentals. It would begin to revitalize the economic situation. Like many places we have a small population. That’s is stable but shrinking in some sectors.” said Hogue
Officials predict an additional 50,000 visitors now that the rail trail is complete, and with an upgraded space with drinks, ice cream and bike rentals. The hope is the station will become a hub connector between Hardwick and St. Johnsbury.
“We are thinking of it as a regional asset and not just a town asset. We were able to get a VTrans community grant to hire a consulting firm to help us figure out where the best location for different trailheads along the way.” said Laural Ruggles of The Northeast Kingdom Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Train Regional Trial Council.
Officials are hoping the station can be completed by late summer.