The Fort Madison Business District may soon have another focal point to market
By Jarod Wells
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
Read more: Local, Community, Tourism, Amtrak, Train Depot, Santa Fe Depot, Ft. Madison, Riverview Park, Historic District
FT MADISON, IA -- The Fort Madison Business District may soon have another focal point to market. Prior to the 2008 floods, the Santa Fe Depot housed the North Lee County Historical Society. But the building has sat vacant since then. There is plenty of work to be done, but that building will soon be the home for the Fort Madison Amtrak station and the historical Society. KHQA's Jarod Wells talked with the mayor about the city's plan to make that happen.
Fort Madison Mayor Steve Ireland says the city has been working on plans to turn the Santa Fe Depot into an Amtrak Station for more than 2 years. He says the project would be almost complete if it weren't for some complications along the way. But now, the city's on the right track.
"Things are rolling, they are moving," said Ireland. "I'm pretty excited about getting the project moving and I'll most certainly be excited when it's completed."
Amtrak currently operates out of the BNSF building on 20th street. Work will soon begin to remodel the Santa Fe Depot in Riverfront Park, which will be completed through three phases.
One of the main things that has to be done to the Santa Fe Depot is raising the building several feet. Not only will this protect the building from more flooding, but it will also make it easier for passengers to get to the railways.
"Now when you go out that side of the building, naturally you look up at the rail," said Ireland. "So it's just going to make everything much better, easier and handicap accessible."
The other two phases include building a passenger platform from the depot to the tracks and then remodeling the inside. The historical society will still be a part of the building. It's agreed to move to the west portion of the building, leaving the other side for Amtrak.
"It's just going to bring that historic touch to the downtown area more than it is now with a remodeled twist," said Ireland. "Its just another marketing tool for the city of Ft. Madison to be able to bring more folks into town."
Ireland says state and federal grants will pay for the majority of the project. But some money is still needed since the preliminary drawings were completed before flooding added to the cost. Some of that money will come from the casino.
Ireland hopes to start getting bids on the work very soon. He says construction could start as early as Summer of 2009 with completion no later than Spring of 2011.
