Amtrak's Harrisburg station to undergo improvements

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf yesterday announced plans for improving the Amtrak Harrisburg Transportation Center and surrounding areas.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation envisions an initial investment of $15 million in federal and state money to bring the Transportation Center into a state of good repair, according to a press release issued by Wolf's office.

The initial investment would be followed by another $50 million to $60 million for station and land use improvements.

"Enhancing Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure is essential to the region’s economy and the Harrisburg Transportation Center is a vital hub that serves our Keystone Corridor passenger rail service, as well as intercity bus and local transit," said Wolf, noting that the center serves more than 1.6 million riders per year.

Michael Baker Corp. and a subcontractor known as BASE Architecture Planning and Engineering Inc. will conduct research and outreach as a first step toward a transit-oriented development plan, according to Wolf's office.

The former Pennsylvania Railroad Station, the Harrisburg center is the western terminal point for all but two of the 28 Amtrak trains that serve the station each day.