BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (WCAX) – A groundbreaking today at the Amtrak station in Brattleboro marked the start of construction for a first-of-its-kind project in Vermont.
If you’ve ever boarded an Amtrak train in Vermont, you may have noticed you need to step up to get into the cars.
“Having more accessible travel for our community is going to be a really great thing,” said Brattleboro Selectboard Chair Daniel Quipp.
The new station in Brattleboro will be home to the state’s first-ever level platform, meaning instead of stepping up, there are no steps, allowing easier access.
“The first time I ever came to Brattleboro was on this train, and I don’t know if you can tell from my accent, I’m not from around here. I had never got on and train and off a train where I have to climb up and down the steps before,” said Quipp.
On Monday, local, state, and federal officials broke ground on the new 345 ft. long wheelchair-accessible platform.
“We are looking to double our ridership by 2040,” said David Handera from Amtrak.
To do that, Amtrak officials say the trains need to be accessible to all. The $15 million upgrade will include a new waiting room.
“Train stations are the front door to a community, so this is truly a front door. Downtown is two blocks away,” said Handera.
The money for the project is coming from a bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Biden in 2021.
“I’ve traveled all over the state, and people always ask me, when can we get better train service,” said Senator Peter Welch.
This station, which will likely take two years to build, has been years in the making. The track was rerouted and the parking lot was revamped to accommodate the new facility.
“To build a project takes time. You pass the law, then you got to get the design, you’ve got to get the architects, you’ve got to get the earth movers,” said Welch.
This is one of 70 Amtrak projects under construction this year, signifying $165 million in accessibility investments across the country.