In 2010, the Town of Waterloo was awarded a TIGER II federal grant to open a train station for Amtrak passengers. Residents wanted to improve the bus shelter for the town's visitors after watching them wait in poor or unpredictable weather for years. The Town received the grant and, after many changes to the project, the decision was made to move the historic train depot closer to the boarding area and open it for year-round passenger use. The building had been rehabilitated in 2010 with Transportation Enhancement funds. A new parking lot, ADA-compliant sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting would be added to areas leading to the boarding area.
Construction began in March 2016, the Town Council hired station attendants and on June 24, 2016, the Waterloo Depot re-opened for passengers--45 years after it was de-commissioned as a train station. A volunteer committee, Friends of the Depot, will oversee displays and fundraising for station upkeep.
Please note that a few items are not complete. Amtrak will install electronic signs in the depot and at the boarding platform by September 2016 with train arrival times posted in real time. Due to regulations and agreements between Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Corporation, the Town was not able to improve the boarding platform or move it closer to the station. Amtrak may improve the boarding area in the future. Wi-fi and security cameras will likely be installed soon.
Please help us by taking a few minutes to answer 10 questions. This survey is part of our requirement for the TIGER II grant funding:
www.SurveyMonkey.com or at www.MyWaterlooIndiana.com
