HISTORIC TAMPA UNION STATION – First Train Using New ADA-Compliant Platform
Right on time, at 12:37 pm, on Monday, November 30th -Tampa’s historic Amtrak Union Station welcomed their first-ever scheduled train using the NEW ADA-Compliant raised platform. The new elevated precast platform will improve passenger accessibility to trains, enabling the boarding of trains without the need for wheelchair lifts. The structure is nearly 1,000 feet long and includes a canopy system. The platform is secured by a foundation undergirded by hundreds of helical piles, which were installed in very close proximity to existing active tracks without disrupting ongoing rail operations. The station has remained active throughout the life of the project, with multiple trains arriving daily within feet of construction. The construction team has worked closely with Amtrak and the station to ensure safety for passengers and workers alike. The Collage Companies provided general contracting services for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) to lead ADA renovations to the Historic Tampa Union Station 601 North Nebraska Avenue. This project is part of Amtrak’s ADA Station Program, which is a massive nationwide undertaking to bring all Amtrak stations across the country up to standard with the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Having opened in 1912 Tampa Union Station was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and received local landmark status from the City of Tampa in 1988. The station was closed in 1984 due to deteriorating conditions but was refurbished and reopened in 1998. Today the station operates as an Amtrak station for the Silver Star line, connecting passenger trains to Miami and New York.
In June 2020, an event was held to celebrate the ongoing safe construction and milestone progress on the station’s Amtrak ADA upgrades.