Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Task Force February 29, 2012
The Newport News Multimodal Station Project will relocate and transform the existing Newport News Amtrak station into a state of the art multimodal facility. The project includes the construction of a pedestrian friendly downtown commuter center option for shipyard and military personnel. Our goal is to create a regional hub for enhanced passenger rail service and the planned peninsula light rail system.
The Newport News station provides twice daily, one-seat direct service to DC, New York, Boston and the entire Northeast corridor. Newport News receives over 110,000 passengers per year and is the 4 th busiest Amtrak station in Virginia. Passenger trips within the corridor will increase, Newport News could see over a quarter million passengers by the year by 2030.
Inadequate size The existing station is small and inadequate, the lobby only seats 25 persons but daily departures average more than 200 passengers. Poor outdoor waiting areas Passengers waiting to board are forced to idle on a narrow, undersized platform that is not fully sheltered and has no outdoor seating. Poor ADA Compliance The platform is not elevated above rail and mechanical lifts are required to board passengers with disabilities. No Room for Growth The station is on a two-acre site with limited parking and no room for station growth and future development on the site.
Relocate the Amtrak Station to a larger site that is city owned and has greater visibility and more potential for future growth and development. Create a multimodal facility that allows passengers to make seamless connections with local transit providers. Construct a second commuter facility in Downtown Newport News for industrial employers and Southside commuters. Integrate good design with the development of each facility so that the stations will serve as gateways into Newport News and Hampton Roads.
* Williamsburg Amtrak Station - * Newport News Amtrak Station
* * * Williamsburg Amtrak Station - New Station New Platform
Gloucester Coliseum Central Downtown Hampton * * * Colonial Williamsburg - NNW Airport Downtown Newport News
Classifications Design & Service Standards Annual Ridership Thresholds Platform w/canopy I II III IV V VI Large Medium Small Staffed Staffed Caretaker Unstaffed Greater Than 400,000 100,000-400,000 50,000-100,000 20,000-50,000 4,000-20,000 Less than 4,000 Station building w/amenities Parking (structure/surface) Transit access (Bus and LRT) Taxi and Shuttle Service Bicycle/Pedestrian Access QuickTrak/eTicketing Customer Service Office Security facilities on site Required Optional
Classifications Design & Service Standards Annual Ridership Thresholds Platform w/canopy I II III IV V VI Large Medium Small Staffed Staffed Caretaker Unstaffed Greater Than 400,000 100,000-400,000 50,000-100,000 20,000-50,000 4,000-20,000 Less than 4,000 Station building w/amenities Parking (structure/surface) Transit access (Bus and LRT) Taxi and Shuttle Service Bicycle/Pedestrian Access QuickTrak/eTicketing Customer Service Office Security facilities on site Required Optional
The Newport News Multimodal Station will be constructed as a fully staffed, Amtrak Class I facility with all of the physical design and service features standard for a large sized passenger rail terminal. Elevated platforms for level boarding Future light rail/commuter rail platform 200 seat lobby (minimum) Airport style ticketing counters Business class amenities Retail space for vendors Bus pull offs and turnarounds for HRT & Greyhound Structured long term parking Shuttle service to the Airport
Conceptual Downtown Commuter Center
Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station-Albany, NY Completed in 2002, this station is jointly used by Amtrak, The Capital District Transit Authority Bus System and local taxis. This station features a large terminal lobby, cafe, full checked baggage service, newsstand, Post Office, and other amenities. T.F. Green Airport Interlink-Providence, RI Opening soon, the new station will include a four-level, 3,500- space garage with facilities for local bus, airport car rental companies and park and ride commuters. The station's primary purpose is to serve local commuters to Providence and Boston. Other examples include the newly remodeled Wilmington Train Station, the BWI/Airport Station and several others facilities along throughout the Northeast Corridor.
The Hampton Roads TPO adopted a resolution supporting the Richmond to Hampton Roads Tier 1 Passenger Rail Study which included enhanced passenger rail on the Peninsula. Newport News has been awarded $2 million in RSTP funds toward design and preliminary engineering work for relocating the Amtrak Station. $18 Million has been programmed for FY-2016/17 for construction (CMAQ).
Michael King, AICP NEWPORT NEWS PLANNING 757-926-8074 mking@nngov.com