Amtrak opts to keep local depot

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint’s historic train stop will remain put for now, but Amtrak officials have yet to make a long-term decision about the station’s ailing depot.

Amtrak spokesperson Vernae Graham said after weighing their options, company officials decided early this week to maintain the Sandpoint location, which is Idaho’s sole stop on the Empire Builder route from Chicago to the West Coast.

“We’re going to stay at the same location,” she said. “Where we’re currently stopping, we’ll continue to stop for right now. … There was discussion about whether or not we were going to move to a new location, but at this point it’s status quo.”

The decision ends months of speculation about the station’s future, but leaves a number of questions unanswered, according to depot advocate Aric Spence. Spence, who also chairs the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission’s depot subcommittee, said Amtrak’s announcement is a victory, but more work needs to be done to ensure the depot’s long-term survival.

The City Council last night passed a resolution of support to keep the station intact, and Spence hopes the city’s vote of confidence will kick start an effort to revitalize the depot.

“It’s an encouraging sign, and hopefully (Amtrak is) waiting to see what the city is going to do and then make their next choices from there regarding what they’re going to do with the station,” he said.

Councilwoman Carrie Logan worked with Spence on the resolution and believes widespread community support for the station affected Amtrak’s decision.

“This demonstrates what a concerted community effort can do to make its voice heard,” she said. “I’m absolutely certain that if had there been no brouhaha, (the stop) would be gone.”

The 93-year-old depot, which is owned by BNSF Railways, is currently closed to the public after leaks were discovered in the building’s roof.

BNSF has not announced plans to fix the roof.