Getting an Amtrak Stop in Your Community

Amtrak depot, Dowagiac, MI

Amtrak's Great American Stations program is designed to assist communities with building or rehabilitating their train stations.  The Great American Stations website provides resources for station development, including:

• Grant opportunities; 
• Tips on the process of developing a station from start to finish; and
• Whom to contact for guidance throughout the process.

A Brief Overview of the Station Development Process

1. Contact Amtrak.
2. Contact the owner of the depot (or the site on which your community desires to build the depot).
3. Contact the state Department of Transportation.
4. Conduct a building inspection / site inspection in conjunction with the railroad company that owns the track and right-of-way.
5. Work with an architect and the Amtrak team to determine the needs for the station, including ADA compliance.
6. Send completed and approved plans to the Federal Railroad Administration for final approval.

Read about the full process on the Great American Stations website.