Roanoke Amtrak area grant funds half-mile station district study

Roanoke Amtrak area grant funding is set to support a new planning effort around the city’s current Amtrak platform.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The City of Roanoke has secured a $770,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant to study what could be possible within a half-mile radius of the stop, as outlined in a City of Roanoke news release.

City officials say the Amtrak platform 0.5-mile radius study would cover downtown as well as nearby historic areas. Mayor Joe Cobb said the boundary includes the Gainsboro neighborhood and Hotel Roanoke, according to WFXR.

The city also points to actions already underway, including a City of Roanoke property purchase near platform. Cobb said Roanoke bought the building immediately adjacent to the Amtrak platform with the eventual hope of having an Amtrak station.

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At this point, the work is positioned as an early step—not a final plan. The grant’s premise is to map out the area and gather input through community stakeholders and downtown property owners, along with business owners, citizens, and city leaders, as WDBJ7 also reports.

Mayor Cobb said the outreach and analysis could set the stage for Roanoke downtown public-private investment Amtrak opportunities.

He added that the goal is to build on the area’s existing vibrancy by identifying ways to enhance parking and improve the visitor or traveler experience at Amtrak, while keeping in mind that the station area serves as a gateway to the city.

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