Has intermodal center jumped the rails?

Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 6:12 a.m.

Text size: A A A

Artist rendering of the North Charleston Passenger Intermodal Center. (Davis&Floyd rendering) ¬ ¬ Published Caption 10/5/10: An artist's rendering of the Intermodal Transportation Center shows the revamped terminal, which will take the place of the decaying Amtrak station.

More than 15 years ago, North Charleston’s leaders envisioned a brand new Amtrak station that not only would serve rail passengers but would also link them with Greyhound and CARTA buses, taxis, possibly even shuttles to the airport.

Millions of dollars, mostly from federal grants, were buying and improving a 36-acre tract on West Montague Avenue.

Metro The old Amtrak Station, on Gaynor Avenue in North Charleston, was built in 1956 and is schedule to close when the new Intermodal Center is built on West Montague Ave. The Amtrak Station Revitalization Project Team will hold meetings for public input for the future of the structure. (Brad Nettles/postandcourier.com) 8/24/11 ¬ ¬ ¬ Published Caption 8/29/2011: The old Amtrak Station, on Gaynor Avenue in North Charleston, was built in 1956 and is scheduled to close when a new Intermodal Center is built on West Montague Avenue. The Amtrak Station Revitalization Project Team will hold meetings for input on the structure's future.
Metro-- The Amtrak terminal site is being considered as the site for the North Charleston Passenger Intermodal Center. (Rendering of the center: Davis and Floyd)

But the completion of the Lowcountry’s new intermodal center remains a distant dream, with major questions surrounding not only around its financing but also its feasibility at the current site.

At issue now is whether Amtrak trains stopping at the new station would block rail traffic at CSX’s nearby Bennett Yard.

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority Chair Elliott Summey said that issue surfaced about six months ago, but he expressed confidence it can be overcome.

“We’re working through it,” he said. “As soon as we know something, we’ll let everybody else know.”

Read more in tomorrow’s Post and Courier.

Comments { }

Post A New Comment
Notice about Commenting

Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.