Amtrak reveals goals for Ephrata station improvements
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
New lighting and a new cement platform are already in place at the Ephrata Amtrak stop. Improvements to the facility will make it more accessible for those with disabilities. Work is expected to continue into 2025.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Construction equipment sits in a gated area Wednesday night at the intersection of Division Avenue East and Alder Street NW. That end of the local Amtrak facility is being upgraded to make it more accessible.
EPHRATA — Improvements to the Ephrata Amtrak station are expected to be completed by March of 2025, according to information provided by Kelly Just, a public relations representative for the rail line.
“The work you’ve observed consists of upgrades and improvements that will ensure a safe, efficient and comfortable travel experience for customers with disabilities. Similar projects are being carried out across Amtrak’s National Network. Barring any weather interruptions or unexpected delays, we expect project completion will occur in March, 2025,” Just said via an email conversation with the Columbia Basin Herald.
Work at the facility has been ongoing for several months and has kept Ephrata residents curious as to the scope of work. Just said the old platform is being replaced with a concrete one that will be 610 feet in length and 12 feet wide, when completed. New lighting, railings and easier-to-navigate pathways between the city’s station and parking area are being installed.
Visual inspection at the site shows that much of the cement work on the left side of the transportation center has been completed with accessible ramps in place for those in wheelchairs.
Additional accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance improvements will also be part of the project, Just said.
“Detectable warning surfaces and signage with Braille are being installed to assist customers with vision disabilities,” Just said.
The improvements at the Ephrata location aren’t unique, she said. Several stations will be seeing similar improvements nationally and Amtrak is hoping to have those improvements complete by sometime in 2029.
Amtrak is hopeful that the improvements will draw more riders, Just said.
“By making it easier for all customers to access Amtrak trains, these improvements certainly may inspire more people to choose this mode of transportation,” she said.
Construction equipment sits in a gated area Wednesday night at the intersection of Division Avenue East and Alder Street NW. That end of the local Amtrak facility is being upgraded to make it more accessible.ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.