The New York State Department of Transportation (NCDOT) says it has awarded a $27.7 million contract to design and build a new Exchange Street train station in downtown Buffalo.
Construction will begin early next year. Locally-based architects Foit-Albert Associates will design the structure, to be built by Hohl Industrial Services and Scrufari Construction.
The plan is for the current station to be demolished and for passengers will use a temporary station, until the new one is completed in the fall of 2020, public radio station WBFO reports.
The broadcaster quoted Bruce Becker, vice-president of operations for the Rail Passengers Association, as saying that the new station will be elevated, twice the size and a vast improvement over the current one, built in 1952.
“The new station is going to be night and day over what Amtrak passengers have experienced for many, many years in downtown Buffalo,” said Becker. “It’ll be modern. It’ll be bright. It will be a high-level platform, which means you’ll be able to exit the train right onto a platform – no going up and down stairs with heavy luggage – all of which makes it more attractive for riders.”
About 38,000 passengers use the Exchange Street station, an important stop connecting New York City and Toronto.
