Offering an improved, enhanced, and accessible experience, the Newport News Transportation Center opened on August 22 for customers traveling on Amtrak Virginia and the regional bus system. Amtrak, the city of Newport News, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), CSX, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) partnered on the multimodal project.
The center, located at 500-B Bland Blvd., will provide two daily Amtrak Virginia roundtrips between Newport News and Richmond, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., and cities in the Northeast. The center will also serve as a transfer point for Amtrak Thruway Bus Service, extending travel to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and for Hampton Roads Transit, taxi service and shuttles to and from the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.
VPRA supports Amtrak Virginia service operating along four corridors from Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News, and Roanoke to Washington, D.C., and continuing to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The new transportation center comes as the service is experiencing record ridership, making the Commonwealth one of the most popular travel destinations on the Amtrak national network.
Customers will access a parking lot and bus area with fully illuminated and accessible pathways leading to the building. All entrances are equipped with automatic doors. Customers will enjoy a 3,450-square-foot waiting area, vending machines, restrooms and Amtrak employees who will offer assistance at the ticket counter.
Train status and boarding information will be available through the state-of-the-art Passenger Information Display System (PIDS). The PIDS communicates train status, origin and destination stations, and other information and features bright, new LCD displays that are easier to read and will synchronize audio and visual messaging in the station.
Customers will access a parking lot and bus area with fully illuminated and accessible pathways leading to the building. All entrances are equipped with automatic doors. Customers will enjoy a 3,450-square-foot waiting area, vending machines, restrooms and Amtrak employees who will offer assistance at the ticket counter.
Train status and boarding information will be available through the state-of-the-art Passenger Information Display System (PIDS). The PIDS communicates train status, origin and destination stations, and other information and features bright, new LCD displays that are easier to read and will synchronize audio and visual messaging in the station.
– via Railpace Newsmagazine
