BRYAN, Ohio — Amtrak is making a major investment in Bryan amid a statewide push to expand passenger rail service in Ohio.
In 18 months, the train station next to Main Street in the north end of Bryan and the area around will be transformed through a $5 million investment from the railroad company.
The new train station building will include a 350-foot platform, a station building with an air-conditioned waiting room and bathrooms and accessibility improvements including new parking, ramps and sidewalks.
"We're going to have a nicely well-lit platform, that's going to be ADA-compliant and a more welcoming building and we couldn't be happier about it," said Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari.
Amtrak says the company has invested more than $880 million since 2011 into accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 124 stations across the country, adding that 20 stations were brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act last year.
"To be able to come out here just pop on a train, have some space to ourselves. (And) the kids, tables they can play on, bounce around a little bit, (it) makes travel a lot easier for families, not just people with disabilities," said Stuart James, executive director of the Ability Center.
Carrie Schlade, the mayor of Bryan, says the city has worked with Amtrak for 43 years and this project is the latest in accessibility upgrades for the city.
"To bring in, in a two weeks period of time, an opening for an all-inclusive playground and a groundbreaking for an ADA-compliant station just speaks to the fact that we are welcoming to all," Schlade said. "We want everyone with every capability to be able to use the facilities in this community and that again includes Amtrak."