Depot's future still uncertain

SANDPOINT — The fate of Sandpoint’s deteriorating train depot was topic number one at a Wednesday forum hosted by Amtrak and attended by an assortment of local officials.

The meeting was designed to bring all parties together to discuss the historic depot’s future but BNSF, which owns the structure, did not send a representative.

Even without BNSF, the meeting attracted officials from Amtrak, the City Council and the Idaho Transportation Department, as well as liaisons for U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, and U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. State Sens. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, and Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle also attended.

The 93-year old depot currently serves Amtrak’s Empire Builder route running from Chicago to the West Coast, but company officials have publicly stated Amtrak could  abandon the station in favor of a smaller stop located either immediately north or south of Sandpoint.

Amtrak’s John Bennett led the meeting and outlined his company’s concern with keeping a stop at the depot. He cited accessibility and parking issues, as well as the costs associated with bringing the building back up to acceptable standards.

“That’s something we think is a crucial aspect and is something we need to resolve,” Bennett said about the site’s accessibility. “And, frankly, we haven’t thought much about it because we were planning on moving.”

While still operating as a stop, the actual depot has been closed for months due to a leaking roof. Aric Spence, who heads the Sandpoint Historic Commission’s depot subcommittee, said he estimates the depot likely could be renovated for $589,000-$754,400, depending on the level of renovation.

As part of negotiations during the planning of the Sand Creek byway, ITD agreed to pay Amtrak $921,644. The funds are not tied to any specific plans, and could be used for a new station or to renovate the current stop, Bennett said. Amtrak was also awarded $60,000 from the federal government for its Mobility First Program, which increases platform wheelchair accessibility.

No decisions were made, but Bennett said he would continue talks with ITD and BNSF about his concerns and asked Mayor Gretchen Hellar and the council to continue studying the cost of renovating the building.