Union Station’s rehabilitation remains on track

Nov. 3, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFGIELD – The Union Station project is still on schedule for an opening in January 2017, but the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA) is still dealing with unforeseen details.

SRA Executive Director Christopher Moskal told the board at its Nov. 1 meeting, currently 200 people a day are working on the interior renovation of the 1926 train station.

Much of the exterior work has been completed, but he noted the repaving of Frank B. Murray Street would be completed next week.

The exterior of the parking garage will receive its finish work in November as well, Moskal said.

In terms of unexpected issues, Moskal said while working to complete a new parking area constructions crews found three underground storage tanks no one knew were there.

The contents were pumped out and tested. The results have allowed the parking lot to move forward without any brownfield remediation or having the tanks removed at a cost of $300,000.

Moskal added the SRA is waiting to hear about a waiver concerning the security cameras it plans to use in the facility.

The Union Station project is under a “Buy American” program and recently passed an audit of the materials it has used “with flying colors,” Moskal said.

The trouble is some of the cameras in question are not made in this country and a waiver is being sought. Moskal explained the cameras must be in place for the station to open, but the waiver hasn’t yet been granted.

If not resolved in time, the “soft opening” of the facility may be delayed.

“It’s the kind of things we’ve got to expect," Moskal said.

Obtaining the necessary insurance, training time for various personnel and finalizing a company to manage the property and another to manage the parking lot are all on the SRA’s punch list at this time.

SRA Board Secretary William MacGregor said the board must have a discussion about the long-term management of the facility.

Moskal added the charge of the SRA is urban renewal, not to operate a facility.

The question is what entity would take over the responsibility of owning and operating the transportation hub.

Moskal added the project had been mandated to be self-sustaining and noted that Worcester allocated more than $600,000 of city funds to address the operating deficit of its Union Station, and Hartford, CT, does the same thing to support its station.

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