Project complete at local Amtrak station

Sep. 28—SOUTH SHORE — A ribbon cutting for the $3.5 million improvement project of South Shore's Amtrak station was a Greenup County star-studded affair on Thursday.

Numerous elected officials — including South Shore Mayor Cheryl Moore, Greenup County Sheriff Matt Smith, Judges Brian McCloud and Paul Craft, County Attorney Matthew Warnock, Clerk Andrew Imel and Jailer Larry Pancake — and community members intermingled outside the new brick heated shelter, now equipping the city with accessible travel for all and economic development opportunity.

The Greenup County High School band kicked off the celebration with the "Star Spangled Banner" and "My Old Kentucky Home," highlighting the spirit of the region folks from all over will encounter when they step off the platform.

Rep. Danny R. Bentley gave a history of the railroad in the region, recalling his father's career as a railroader for 42 years — serving many troop trains and two presidential trains.

Bentley said during his long career, his father served train cars of servicemen from the battles in the Pacific — including Marines in Iwo Jima.

Bentley credited the railroad for his opportunity to attend college, striking a similarity with many who were raised off the sweat of railroad workers.

"We serve all mid-America right here," Bentley said, adding Amtrak will be a vital promotional tool for the incoming quarter horse track.

"We railroaders, we do have a heart. We know the history of our services and how important it is to the communities that we serve; That's the reason that we're making the investment like we are in South Shore," said Derrick James, Amtrak's director of government affairs.

Prior to the renovation, the station was lackluster at best. The former "plastic box" as described by several in attendance, was nothing more than a strip of asphalt and bench, far from accommodating the required specifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to the actual structure, the renovations included a new concrete platform and accessible ramps and sidewalks.

The project included the help of local contractors, including Meadowbrook Concrete from Morehead and River Cities Glass out of Ashland, providing local, quality jobs.

Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Hall said the construction of the new depot was "magnificent" and quality transportation is important when it comes to community growth and economic development.

"We are honored and blessed to have this in South Shore," Hall said.

The Amtrak Cardinal will chug through South Shore three days a week, heading to and from Chicago to New York City — stopping off in Trenton, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and other desirable spots.

The project was a combination of state, local and federal funds and part of a larger $780 million Amtrak project to provide accessibility upgrades to more than 100 stations across the nation.

(606) 326-2652 — mjepling@dailyindependent.com