Depot to be center of local rail travel

SANDPOINT — Local entrepreneurs, Amtrak officials and U.S. legislators are teaming up to provide a snapshot of future rail travel in Sandpoint.

Sen. Mike Crapo met with Mayor Carrie Logan, Amtrak director of government affairs Rob Eaton, Idagon construction associate Justin Schuck and Solar Roadways co-founder and inventor Scott Brusaw at the Sandpoint Depot on Saturday to get a look at the structure’s rehabilitation. According to the trio of officials, the depot will soon become a center for reinvigorated local passenger train travel — and potentially a demonstration site for Solar Roadways technology.

Crapo has already met with the Brusaws about Solar Roadways, which made serious waves in May and June with an Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $2,200,000 through crowdfunding.

Now in the process of establishing their business headquarters in downtown Sandpoint and hiring a team of engineers to perfect the product, Brusaw has received interest in Solar Roadways from several local institutions, including the city of Sandpoint, Sandpoint Airport and Amtrak.

For Crapo, Solar Roadways is a great example of Idaho entrepreneurship and could be an important tool in diversifying the country’s sources of energy.     

“We’re far too dependent on oil and gas, and while we should continue to develop those resources, we need to find a new solution,” the senator said.

The Sandpoint Depot station platform could be a key spot to demonstrate Solar Roadways technology.

Brusaw said the solar panels, protected by industrial-strength glass and equipped with LED lights, could be programmed to warn nearby individuals about incoming trains. The heating elements in the panels would also keep the platform clear of snow and ice.

According to Brusaw, the platform could be installed as early as next spring.

The goal is to hire an engineering team soon that will hopefully have a refined version of the product ready by the end of the year.

“We’re hoping (the depot) will be one of our first public installations,” Brusaw said.

With any luck, the depot itself will also be ready by the end of the year. Idagon workers will spend the next several months removing asbestos and lead paint, tearing off and reworking the roof and repairing the brickwork.  

As for Amtrak itself, Eaton said they’re excited to reopen a historic and beautiful structure for their customers. With so much oil activity occurring in North Dakota, Eaton said ridership has increased 2,000-percent as workers travel east for jobs.

While Amtrak funding is limited and the Empire Builder train route struggles to keep consistent timetables, Crapo and Eaton said that the railway is working to provide the best experience possible for all the new train travelers.

“It’s tough budget times, but Amtrak is working very aggressively to expand,” Crapo said.