Amtrak to Invest $16 Million Toward Johnstown Station Improvements

Amtrak Funding Builds on $24.5 Million Johnstown Station Redevelopment Effort

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – As part of the Johnstown Iron-to-Arts Corridor Project, Amtrak is investing more than $16 million into the Johnstown Station, served by the PennDOT supported Pennsylvanian route (operating daily between New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh), as part of the ADASP (Americans with Disabilities Act Stations Program) and State of Good Repair Funding. Amtrak’s investment builds on a $24.5 million U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE Grant to be awarded to Johnstown on Nov. 19, which will support additional improvements to Johnstown Station and other key transportation facilities in this city.

“Making our stations accessible to all customers is a critical priority and we are actively performing construction, renovation, repair and upgrades of properties both here in Johnstown and throughout the United States, in collaboration with great public sector partners like the U.S. Department of Transportation, PennDOT, the City of Johnstown and the support of Norfolk Southern,” said Amtrak Assistant Vice President of Stations and Facilities George Holz. “Improvements to the Johnstown Station platforms, tunnels and track will ensure accessible, inclusive and safe experiences for everyone as they travel with us. Additionally, the vital overall support for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail from the just-signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill gives us added confidence and resources to make this important investment here and at other facilities around the country.”

Amtrak’s improvements to the 105-year-old station will be funded by National Network and Northeast Corridor grants and include:

• ADA Improvements: Amtrak will remove the existing platform, headhouse, elevator, and stairway, replacing them with a new heated and air-conditioned headhouse with an interior elevator, stairway, small waiting area, and storage area. A new 8” above-top-of-rail (ATR) island platform that will safely permit the passage of freight trains, while also allowing for safe transfer of customers onto Amtrak trains. Additionally, the existing baggage tunnel will be filled.
• State of Good Repair (SOGR) Improvements: The existing passenger tunnel will receive new concrete and lighting maintenance. The new platform will feature a complete snow melt system.
• Track Work: The track will be reprofiled to allow 8” ATR on both sides of the new island platform to ensure a smoother ride.

Construction on Johnstown Station is slated to begin in October of 2022 once all external approvals are complete.  

Amtrak’s ADASP is a multi-year program developed to bring the stations, or the components of stations, that Amtrak has ADA responsibility for into compliance with ADA requirements as quickly and as efficiently as possible to provide the best possible service to our passengers with disabilities. For more information, view Amtrak’s latest ADA progress report.