Amtrak announced that renovations at the G.K. Butterfield Station in Wilson, N.C., are now complete. Amtrak completed the USD 4 million project in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and in cooperation with the City of Wilson, North Carolina Department of Transportation, and CSX to improve the station. The project is part of the ongoing and companywide commitment at Amtrak to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers.
The Amtrak Carolinian and Palmetto provide daily service to the station at 401 East Nash St. The Carolinian operates between Charlotte and New York and is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and operated by Amtrak and paid for through state funding and passenger fares. The Palmetto travels between New York and Savannah, Ga. The Wilson station also offers Thruway Bus connection for travel to eastern North Carolina.
“Providing an accessible travel experience is a top priority and we’re actively advancing construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across our national network,” Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera said. “We are pleased we delivered these improvements to the station and for our customers and community.”
The Wilson station gives customers access to a 435-foot-long concrete platform featuring additional lighting, guardrails and signage. The platform provides a sturdy, uniform surface for customers to board on and off the train and includes a detectable warning system along the edge of the platform. The system is a hazard warning to alert customers who are blind or have low vision if they are close to the platform edge.
Customers will find accessible paths of travel to and from the station, parking spaces, the Thruway bus section, and the intersection of Nash and Lodge streets.
“We’re proud to work in partnership with the City of Wilson, Amtrak, CSX and the FRA to make these significant improvements to the G.K. Butterfield Station,” said Jason Orthner, NCDOT Rail Division Director. “Ensuring all riders have access to safe and convenient train travel guarantees future growth and success of passenger rail in North Carolina and beyond.”
Amtrak has invested more than USD 900 million since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 127 stations across the national network to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers with disabilities. With 10 stations brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in Fiscal Year 2024, another 41 stations are targeted for completion in Fiscal Year 2025 at a forecasted investment of USD 235 million.
The ADA Stations Program is advancing 144 station designs and 63 station construction projects as part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029.
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