City leaders are yet to reach a deal with Amtrak regarding the new $43 million dollar train station in Niagara Falls.
As of Tuesday the new state-of-the-art train depot on Main Street was closed. The issue, there is no train servicing the station. That's because Niagara Falls City Leaders are still trying to reach an agreement with Amtrak on leasing the building. It's leaving several residents wondering if this train station will ever open.
"It would be a real shame to have that building sitting there for a year or so have nothing happen to it. That would just be horrible," Niagara Falls Resident, David Sanders said.
"That should have been okayed before they done all of this. You don't dig a grave and find out nobody going in the grave," Niagara Falls Resident Ned Davis said.
Amtrak released this statement to 7 Eyewitness News.
"Amtrak continues to work with the City of Niagara Falls toward execution of a lease agreement allowing us to occupy space in the new train station. We are working through the remaining issues which we are optimistic can be resolved. We look forward to moving Amtrak operations into the new building and inaugurating service to the new station," Amtrak Representative, Craig Schulz.
Currently Amtrak is only operating out of the old Niagara Falls Train Station near Lockport Road. There is still no time table on when a deal will be reached.
The train station project was a multimillion dollars investment. Much of it came through federal and state funds. Part of the station is designed to be a museum honoring the Underground Railroad. The top floor is designed for Amtrak.
We reached out to Niagara Falls Acting Director for Planning and Economic Development, Thomas Desantis for comment. 7 Eyewitness News was not able to reach him by the time this story aired. But Niagara Falls Mayor, Paul Dyster Office told us "the ball is now in Amtrak's court."
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