Amtrak: Latrobe station upgrade could begin in 2020

Latrobe appears to be on track for some major improvements to its Amtrak passenger station, with construction eyed for a possible 2020 start date.

Amtrak discussed the proposed improvements, meant to better serve passengers with disabilities, in an interview with the Tribune-Review nearly two years ago.

Latrobe officials were encouraged after reviewing updated project information late last week with representatives of the national passenger rail service.

City Manager John Antinori told council on Monday the discussion included three tentative design options for the project. The most elaborate version, he said, could include a ramp allowing passengers to more easily reach the elevated Norfolk Southern Railway tracks and Amtrak station from a parking lot below, on McKinley Avenue.

Passengers currently must climb numerous steps to get to the station.

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office is reviewing a project design that calls for connecting the passenger platform to the parking area with a covered ramp, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Beth Toll.

Amtrak officials have said they also want to raise the height of the passenger platform so it will be 8 inches above the track level — a height that can “facilitate boarding by ambulatory passengers,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another improvement would add signage that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“They seem serious about doing it,” Antinori said of the project. “It’s all preliminary, but it would be exciting to see.”

Two years ago, Amtrak officials said they hoped to construct the station improvements in 2019. Toll said Tuesday that Amtrak wants to complete design work by the first quarter of 2020 and begin construction by the third quarter of the year.

Stakeholders reviewing the design include Norfolk Southern and Pennsylvania officials, she said.

Councilman Ralph Jenko said city officials should present Amtrak with a united, positive front about the project so that it doesn’t get pushed onto the back burner.

“It’s real important at the early stages that we all go in unified, making sure that they get the right, positive attitude that we’re ready to go forward with this, and keep us at the front of the line,” Jenko said.

The proposed improvements would be “transformational,” according to Jarod Trunzo, executive director of the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program, who also was involved in the discussion with Amtrak.

He said it would increase the appeal of the Amtrak station and bring it in line with that of the 1903 former Pennsylvania Railroad station on McKinley that has been restored as DiSalvo’s Station Restaurant.

Amtrak reports it served 4,068 passengers at the Latrobe station in 2018, generating $243,841 in revenue. That’s down from the previous year, when there were close to 4,250 passengers and nearly $250,000 in revenue at Latrobe.