ClimbGuy
Mar 28, 10, 8:52 pm
I was at the Washington, DC ClubAcela the other day and noticed they were renovated a section of it. While It may be unrelated the soda fountain was broken, so they had cans available.
Does anyone know what the long term plan for the renovations are? I know it's a long shot, but please tell me they are adding a bar. That would be one stimulus project I could get behind!
GoAmtrak
Mar 28, 10, 10:01 pm
This is part of Amtrak's current FY capital plan, non-ARRA. From p. 81 of the business plan (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249206267607&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_Amtrak-FY2010ComprehensiveBusinessPlan.pdf) (.pdf):
Station and Facility Improvements Program: $13.6M
o Support Equipment ($3.0M): Equipment for the 600+ stations to provide the best possible
service to our passengers, comply with all applicable ADA regulations, and minimize
operational expenses through use of common equipment. This equipment includes items
such as radios, tractors, people movers, baggage floats, self-service luggage carts,
wheelchairs, and wheelchair lifts.
o Station Signage ($0.5M): This project involves replacing and installing informational and
directional signage at staffed and unstaffed stations. The current signs are worn and faded,
not standardized and are inconsistent within the organization. This project, initiated in
FY05, will enable the organization to address security issues that require more signage at
stations and provide a professional platform for communicating important information to
passengers.
o Wheel Chair Lifts ($1.0M): The objective of the project is to purchase and replace
additional wheelchair lifts for 296 stations which handle approximately 90% of Amtrak's
customers. The project scope also includes purchase of sheds to protect the lifts from
vandalism and weather. Amtrak must be in compliance with the ADA law by July 26,
2010, thus any deferral to the project will cause the company to be non-compliant with
applicable ADA laws and unable to provide adequate customer service.
o NYP Station Improvements ($3.6M): This project will improve customer service by
addressing the station facilities and amenities as well as safety and ADA issues: 1) public
restroom renovation and replace HVAC units located within the restroom ceiling; 2)
replace 3 sets of entrance doors; 3) upgrade Station PA system; 4) Platform painting, tactile
edging replacement; 5) General station painting; 6) install stairway treading; 7) increase
ACELA seating areas by 200 seats; 8) replace counter work areas.
o Chicago Union Station improvements ($4.0M): Project will relocate CUS Metropolitan
Lounge to historical building; renovate the coach boarding lounge, convert lounge G to
public restrooms; install 72 sets of head house entry doors; install induction lighting;
restoration of historical building facade; install a new HVAC for the great hall and the 2nd
and 3rd floors of the station, replace 12 escalators; replace tactile edging along the
platforms; renovate pedway; install head house sprinkler system; replace both exterior and
interior windows throughout the 2nd of 8th floors throughout the historical building, and
modernize elevators (4 passenger, 2 freight). Environmental remediation work, which will
include lead based paint and asbestos removal on upper floors.
o Starlight Room Reconfiguration for Passenger Loading ($1.0M): The new design will
integrate needs of simultaneous boarding of intercity, Acela and commuters, upgrade first
class Acela Lounge and incorporate improved line of sight requirements for potential
secured screening areas. The project goal is to enhance passenger queuing areas for more
direct boarding to trains and reduce congestion caused by passenger queuing through retail
concourse. Station present situation does not allow an efficient boarding operation for all
trains and creates safety and security concerns due to congestion throughout the station, and
does not provide for crowd control during an evacuation.
o Customs/Vancouver Station Improvements ($0.6M): Involves working with Canadian
and US Border Crossing Agencies at Vancouver Station to build our primary space
in order to allow for pre-clearance initiatives to accommodate requirements from
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs & Border Protection
(USCBP). The project also includes electronic access to all station doors, electronic
signage, video monitors and platform sealing stripping and patching for various
stations.
The bolded item is the work you're seeing at WAS (the Starlight Room is the intermediate boarding lounge just outside the west exit from the ClubAcela). Note that the CHI Metropolitan Lounge is scheduled to be relocated, about five years after it was last renovated.