SPRINGFIELD  – The completion of the renovations to Union Station will be delayed for an estimated six months, but that will not prevent the opening of the transportation hub.

Chris Moskal, executive director of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA), which is supervising the project and Kevin Kennedy, the city’s chief development officer, explained at a press conference a decision made by federal authorities that will require a change in the design and construction of one of the track platforms will delay the completion.

Kennedy described the situation as “another little bump in the road in a many decades old project.”

Both men stressed Union Station is both on budget and on time to open in either late December 2016 or January 2017. The terminal, the bus service and retail services will be open. Amtrak services will be available at the time of the opening through the use of its present trackside lobby, but Amtrak ticketing will be in the main terminal. Moskal explained Amtrak applied for two waivers to the Federal Railroad Administration for the clearance on the existing platform area. Those waivers were denied. Moskal added the budget has yet to be determined and the job will have to go out to bid. Kennedy added the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has agreed to pay for the construction.

Speaking on the status of the project, Moskal said the waterproofing under the tracks to prevent water from leaking into the passenger tunnel is halfway completed. He added the SRA is now speaking to potential retail and office tenants. The men declined to say what companies are interested until a lease is signed.

The SRA is negotiating with Peter Pan Bus Lines to move their terminal operations to Union Station.

With construction well underway, Kennedy said this is the time for business activities. Moskal said the estimated use of the building will be 4 million riders a year and that does not include any estimates concerning ridership on the Springfield to New Haven, CT, commuter service that is scheduled to begin in January 2018.

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