Federal grant directs $15 million to Staunton Amtrak station improvements

More than $15 million in federal funding is on track for improvements at the Staunton Amtrak Station.

In a shared statement Friday, Aug. 14, Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner said the money for the station will cover upgrades to the station's platform, canopy, and accessible routes, including handrails and curb ramps.

It is part of more than $2.18 billion awarded to the state through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. The program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which the senators called "a transformative investment" in American infrastructure.

"Reliable passenger rail plays a critical role in connecting Virginians to their jobs, families, and communities, while also giving travelers more options to get where they need to go," Kaine and Warner said in the statement. "We're thrilled that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver major investments to Virginia, improving our transportation infrastructure, boosting our Commonwealth's economy, and creating good-paying jobs.

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Located at 1 Middlebrook Ave. in downtown Staunton, the station is on Amtrak's Cardinal Line that also includes stops in Charlottesville, Washington, New York City and Chicago. The station's history dates back to 1866 when it was built by the old Chesapeake & Ohio Railway to be used as a signal house.

It is near the original Staunton train station that was built in 1902 and is actually larger than the one now used. However, it is not being used for any railroad-related purposes.

Other projects to be covered by the funding include $2.05 billion to improve Amtrak's intercity service across Virginia, and $2.3 million for replacement of a dangerous at-grade railroad crossing in Chesterfield County about 10 miles north of Petersburg.

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Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) has won numerous awards during his 40-year journalism career. A Petersburg native, Bill is a 1984 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a degree in mass communications. He specializes in coverage of breaking news, crime, government, and local/state/national politics. He is an avid history buff and a lifelong Washington Commanders fan. Reach him at [email protected] with news tips and story suggestions.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Federal grant directs $15 million to Staunton Amtrak station improvements