Amtrak customers have a smoother, brighter, and more accessible journey with the completion of a $1.4 million project at the Jefferson City, Mo., station. The Amtrak Missouri River Runner travels between St. Louis and Kansas City with stops in Jefferson City twice daily eastbound and westbound.

Amtrak, working with the City of Jefferson, advanced a series of accessibility improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that include a new platform, ramps, signage, lighting, and guardrails, as well as a new connection to the public right of way.

Replacing the former asphalt platform is a newly constructed 325-foot-long concrete platform, eight inches above top of rail, provides a level surface for wheeled mobility device users with a tactile detectable warning system along the full platform length with a focus on passengers with vision disabilities. A new concrete ramp and landing near Jefferson Street provides an accessible path for travel to the new platform, with a second ramp located at the west end of the platform.

Increased Safety

In consultation with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office, LED pole-mounted light fixtures were installed on the platform and pathways to provide newly lit and safer spaces and designed to also complement the historic fabric of the site and style of the surrounding streetlights.

“Making our stations accessible to all customers is a priority and we’re actively performing construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across our national network,” said Amtrak VP Dr. David Handera. “We want Jefferson City and all of our stations to be a welcoming and comfortable environment to all of our customers.”

Jefferson City is staffed daily by a dedicated group of volunteers using a temporary facility until the state-owned historic building normally used as a station can be reopened. Amtrak operates the Missouri River Runner under a contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

“At MoDOT, we are proud to have a partnership with Amtrak and communities across the state,” said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna, as he congratulated the city and thanked Amtrak. “This route supports thousands of jobs and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for this state.”

Amtrak’s Ongoing ADA Investments

Amtrak has invested $793 million since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 118 stations across the national network to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers with disabilities. The improvements include repairs and upgrades to platforms, ramps and sidewalks, renovations to entranceways and restrooms, with 20 stations brought into ADA compliance last year.

Another 20 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year at a forecasted investment of $125 million.

Amtrak’s program is advancing 143 station designs and 39 station construction projects as part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029.