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Northfield staff say Amtrak stop is feasible; board asked to fund $20,000 site study
Summary
Tom Davis told the Select Board that Amtrak and the Vermont Agency of Transportation have signaled support for a Northfield stop after states cleared objections and a clarified 300-foot platform minimum; he recommended a town-funded site study (rough estimate $20,000) to analyze precise locations, ADA access and parking options.
Tom Davis of the town Economic Development Office told the Select Board on March 24 that work to secure an Amtrak stop for Northfield has stepped forward after both Connecticut and Massachusetts indicated they would not object to an additional stop.
"Before we were told the platform had to be 700 feet in length," Davis said, "we've since found out that 300 is the minimum, which greatly changes the game here." He said that clarification opens up potential platform sites nearer the common, including an option adjacent to Felinos Pizza, and that the town has been greenlighted by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) to pursue the next steps.
Davis said the Secretary of Transportation and the governor have been supportive. He urged the board to authorize funding for a professional site study so engineers can draw options that meet rail and ADA specifications, identify boarding points and estimate infrastructure changes. He gave a very rough early estimate of about $20,000 for such a study.
Board members and members of the public asked about parking, pedestrian access and a timeline. Davis said possible solutions include using existing town land near the easement for overnight parking, negotiating with the railroad for easement use, and designing covered waiting areas so there would be no need for a staffed ticket office. He said typical trains currently pass through town at roughly midmorning and evening times that could support retail activity on the common.
Several board members pressed about funding sources. Davis and others pointed to federal appropriations efforts championed by U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and to targeted rail grants and state programs that have funded other Vermont platform projects. "It's probably going to have to be through one of those places," Davis said of grant sources. He added that AOT and Amtrak involvement could reduce the town's share.
Tom Davis said the next formal step would be to commission a site study and return to the board with specific options and cost estimates; any concrete design or construction would require subsequent approvals by AOT and Amtrak.
The board did not take a funding vote at the March 24 meeting; Davis said he would provide printed maps and a report to board members and follow up on grant opportunities.
