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Sturtevant (Amtrak station)
Encyclopedia
Sturtevant is an Amtrak
railway station which opened for service on August 14, 2006. It is located at 9900 East Exploration Court, as part of the Renaissance Business Park in Sturtevant
, Wisconsin
, United States. The facility accommodates travelers who use the Hiawatha Service between Chicago Union Station
and the Milwaukee Intermodal Station
, and sees fourteen daily arrivals, seven each from Milwaukee and Chicago. Located along tracks owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway
, the station was constructed as a replacement for the Milwaukee Road's 1901 Sturtevant depot at 2904 Wisconsin Street, which has since been moved from its former location to Caledonia by October 2009.
The 1800 square feet (167.2 m²) station includes a Quik-Trak ticket vending machine, restrooms, a seating area and a pedestrian bridge to connect the northbound and southbound boarding platforms. As the station is unstaffed, all tickets from the station need to be pre-paid, purchased from Quik-Trak or on the train from a conductor. The station parking lot contains 170 spaces, with payment required upon entering for daily use and a permit required for monthly use. Connections from the station to the local bus service operated daily by the Belle Urban System
are also available.
Prior to the completion of this facility, Amtrak served the 1901 depot located in downtown Sturtevant. Due to the age and condition of the facility, in summer 1998 village officials applied for a federal grant for the construction of a new station. By November, initial construction costs for the facility were estimated at $1 million. Financing for the facility would come 80 percent through a state grant with the remaining 20 percent coming from the village. In July 2000, the original architectural plans were unveiled illustrating a 1500 square feet (139.4 m²) station, two side platform
s, and a pedestrian tunnel crossing beneath the tracks. Additionally, construction costs were revised to $1.2 million with an estimated completion date of spring 2001.
Final approval for the construction of the station was given by the Sturtevant Village Board in April 2001, with completion slated for that November. At the time of approval, construction costs were again revised up to $2.1 million and the size of the station was increased to 1800 square feet (167.2 m²). By fall 2002, after both design changes and a delay in the receipt federal funding, construction was expected to commence. However, groundbreaking would again be delayed due to a disagreement between the village and the Canadian Pacific Railway regarding liability for what occurs on railroad property during construction. The issue was resolved by February 2003, with solicitation of bids for its construction being requested soon thereafter.
In May, costs for construction of the station were again increased to $4.1 million. The increased costs were primarily associated with the relocation of fiber optic lines during the construction of the pedestrian tunnel. To reduce overall costs, village officials asked for architects to remove the tunnel and replace it with an elevated walkway over the tracks. In October 2004, the village board gave final approval to the revised station plan with a pedestrian bridge. The $3.2 million estimated cost of the station was to be financed through a pair of federal transportation grants in addition to the village borrowing against its tax incremental financing district
from the adjacent industrial park.
After nearly six years since it was initially proposed, ground was broken for the station in September 2005. The official dedication for the $3.2 million facility occurred on August 12, 2006, with Governor Jim Doyle
, U.S. Representative
Paul Ryan
and Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds in attendance. Service would be discontinued at the 1901-depot the following day with the new facility opening for passenger service on August 14, 2006. The shuttered, 1901 station would subsequently be deconstructed and relocated to Caledonia
between August and October 2009.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
railway station which opened for service on August 14, 2006. It is located at 9900 East Exploration Court, as part of the Renaissance Business Park in Sturtevant
Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Sturtevant is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6599 at the 2009 census.Sturtevant celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.-Geography:Sturtevant is located at ....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States. The facility accommodates travelers who use the Hiawatha Service between Chicago Union Station
Union Station (Chicago)
Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams...
and the Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Milwaukee Intermodal Station is a train and bus station in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin served by Amtrak and several intercity motorcoach operators, including Coach USA, Greyhound Lines, Jefferson Lines, Indian Trails, and Lamers. Megabus stops on Fifth Street near the station...
, and sees fourteen daily arrivals, seven each from Milwaukee and Chicago. Located along tracks owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, the station was constructed as a replacement for the Milwaukee Road's 1901 Sturtevant depot at 2904 Wisconsin Street, which has since been moved from its former location to Caledonia by October 2009.
Service and facilities
The Sturtevant station's primary function is to provide residents of Racine County and the southern portions of the Milwaukee metropolitan area Amtrak service. The station is served only by the Amtrak Hiawatha Service, and sees fourteen daily arrivals, seven each from Milwaukee and Chicago Union Station. The station is the third stop in route to Chicago, with a travel time along the 23-mile (37-kilometer) section taking 28 minutes. It is also the third stop in route to Milwaukee, with a travel time along the 63-mile (101-kilometer) section taking one hour. For 2009, the station handled 71,369 passengers.The 1800 square feet (167.2 m²) station includes a Quik-Trak ticket vending machine, restrooms, a seating area and a pedestrian bridge to connect the northbound and southbound boarding platforms. As the station is unstaffed, all tickets from the station need to be pre-paid, purchased from Quik-Trak or on the train from a conductor. The station parking lot contains 170 spaces, with payment required upon entering for daily use and a permit required for monthly use. Connections from the station to the local bus service operated daily by the Belle Urban System
Belle Urban System
The Belle Urban System is a public transit agency in Racine, Wisconsin. The Belle referring to Racine's nickname "The Belle City"....
are also available.
History
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s, and a pedestrian tunnel crossing beneath the tracks. Additionally, construction costs were revised to $1.2 million with an estimated completion date of spring 2001.
Final approval for the construction of the station was given by the Sturtevant Village Board in April 2001, with completion slated for that November. At the time of approval, construction costs were again revised up to $2.1 million and the size of the station was increased to 1800 square feet (167.2 m²). By fall 2002, after both design changes and a delay in the receipt federal funding, construction was expected to commence. However, groundbreaking would again be delayed due to a disagreement between the village and the Canadian Pacific Railway regarding liability for what occurs on railroad property during construction. The issue was resolved by February 2003, with solicitation of bids for its construction being requested soon thereafter.
In May, costs for construction of the station were again increased to $4.1 million. The increased costs were primarily associated with the relocation of fiber optic lines during the construction of the pedestrian tunnel. To reduce overall costs, village officials asked for architects to remove the tunnel and replace it with an elevated walkway over the tracks. In October 2004, the village board gave final approval to the revised station plan with a pedestrian bridge. The $3.2 million estimated cost of the station was to be financed through a pair of federal transportation grants in addition to the village borrowing against its tax incremental financing district
Tax increment financing
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a public financing method which has been used as a subsidy for redevelopment and community improvement projects in many countries including the United States for more than 50 years...
from the adjacent industrial park.
After nearly six years since it was initially proposed, ground was broken for the station in September 2005. The official dedication for the $3.2 million facility occurred on August 12, 2006, with Governor Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
, U.S. Representative
Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
Wisconsin's 1st congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southeastern Wisconsin, covering Kenosha County, Racine County and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock County, Waukesha County and Milwaukee County. The district's...
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan (politician)
Paul Davis Ryan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been ranked among the party's most influential voices on economic policy....
and Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds in attendance. Service would be discontinued at the 1901-depot the following day with the new facility opening for passenger service on August 14, 2006. The shuttered, 1901 station would subsequently be deconstructed and relocated to Caledonia
Caledonia, Wisconsin
Caledonia is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Caledonia, Wisconsin, a village in Racine County*Caledonia, Columbia County, Wisconsin, a town in Columbia County*Caledonia, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, a town in Trempealeau County...
between August and October 2009.