Amtrak station in Rochester, NY. Photo via New York Railroads.
Rochester, NY is building a transportation gateway to the city that will serve the region and become a landmark for generations—thanks in part to a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
In August, USDOT dedicated $15 million in TIGER grant funding to replace the city’s current Amtrak station, which first opened its doors in 1978, with a new intermodal transit center. The new 12,000 square foot, $26.5 million facility will include high passenger platforms, an underground concourse and two new passenger sidings.
“This grant will give Rochester a modern train station that will connect residents to all of New York and New England,” said USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Projects like this offer more transit options to more people, opening doors to opportunities both near and far.”
The station will improve access to Amtrak’s Empire service from New York City to Niagara Falls, the Maple Leaf from NYC to Toronto, and Lake Shore Limited from NYC/Boston to Chicago, as well as connections to other modes of transportation, such as bus service and taxis, USDOT officials said.
The City of Rochester has worked with local residents, Amtrak, CSXT, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and other organizations to generate plans for the facility. The project is being funded jointly through USDOT, the New York State Department of Transportation and the City of Rochester.
The TIGER program has invested over $3.1 billion in over 200 projects around the country, improving access within cities and towns, spurring economic growth and making communities more sustainable since 2009. TIGER is a part of the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a collaboration between USDOT, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Partnership works with communities to create more housing and transportation choices, and support neighborhoods’ sustained vibrancy by attracting new business.
Want to see more projects like Rochester’s intermodal transit center? Tell Congress to fund these programs today.