Amtrak, Niagara Falls OK deal on city's new rail station

Amtrak and the city of Niagara Falls have reached an agreement on a lease deal for space in the city's new transportation center.

The 20-year lease agreement that took months to complete calls for the passenger rail service to lease more than half of the 46,000-square-foot, two-story station within the Niagara Falls Intermodal Transportation Center. Amtrak and the city will share the operating and maintenance costs.

New York's newest rail station, built at a cost of $43 million, opened in July. It will also house an Underground Railroad museum and retail space.

Niagara Falls officials view the new station as an important component in attracting more tourists to the economically struggling border city.

Officials in Buffalo are looking into replacing the city's aging downtown Amtrak station.