Normal looking at contract for old Amtrak station renovation

Posted on April 18, 2016
Uptown Station
The project coincides with the state’s high speed rail work. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council will consider a $2.5 million contract Monday night with River City Construction for work on the south side of the tracks at Uptown Station.

It’s a two-part project. One piece involves the construction of a new platform on that piece of the tracks.

“There was an existing platform that was insufficient,” said city manager Mark Peterson. “It was too narrow and did not have the sufficient length to meet the needs of these new train sets that will be on the high speed line here probably in a year or so.”

The project will also involve the renovation of the old Amtrak station on the south part of the tracks.

“It’ll be a nice environment – climate control, warm in the winter, keep you out of the rain in the summer months,” said Peterson. “(It will) be used as a waiting area for people that are on the south platform waiting for their train.”

Work is expected to begin this summer. The project is being funded entirely by federal high speed rail funds.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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