Amtrak completes accessibility upgrades at Gastonia station

The Amtrak station in Gastonia, NC celebrated the completion of a $3.2 million project that left the station with multiple upgrades. The accessibility upgrades are part of Amtrak’s commitment to the overall experience of their customers from the station to onboard the trains.

Gastonia’s station, located at 350 Hancock St., is the stop for Amtrak’s Crescent, which travels daily between New York and New Orleans. The accessibility improvements were a collaborative effort between Amtrak, the city of Gastonia, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Norfolk Southern.

The official news release announcing the upgrades provided details of what was completed.

The construction included “a new concrete platform with all new lighting, guardrails, and signage. The platform provides a sturdy, uniform surface for customers to board on and off the train.”

“Additional improvements included an accessible restroom, renovated waiting room, and power-operated door entrance in the station, and a newly paved parking lot with an entrance driveway and two accessible parking spaces for customers who use wheeled mobility devices,” stated the release.

According to WCNC, the improvements in Gastonia are part of the $95 million that Amtrak has spent this fiscal year to “bring 20 train stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Stations Program.” The railroad company has pledged that another 39 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year at an estimated cost of $165 million.

Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President, Stations, Facilities, and Accessibility, said, “Making our stations accessible to all customers is a priority, and we’re actively performing construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across our national network. He added, “We want Gastonia and all of our stations to be a welcoming and comfortable environment to all of our customers.”

Creating accessible entry and travel routes for passengers with disabilities was a critical part of the improvements. Three new ramps were placed between the platform, station, and parking lot. Standard but overdue changes to the station were made as well, including new site lighting and a new heating and cooling system.

Gastonia Mayor Walker E. Reid was grateful for what the upgrades meant for the community of Gastonia.

“Accessibility is very important to our city. We are grateful to Amtrak for the upgrades to our station as we continue to grow and passengers make Gastonia a destination on their routes of travel.”

One hundred twenty-nine Amtrak stations are on the list to receive station upgrades along with the addition of 40 other construction projects. These advancements are part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to improving accessibility for its customers.

The news release mentioned that to date, “Amtrak has completed work at 177 stations; 108 stations where Amtrak is responsible are fully compliant and another 69 stations are compliant, excluding the platform.”

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

This story was originally published April 7, 2023 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Amtrak completes accessibility upgrades at Gastonia station."