Ridership at Elizabethtown Train Station jumps nearly 10 percent

Thanks to a post on the Elizabethtown Advocate's Facebook page yesterday, I learned that ridership at the Elizabethtown Train Station has jumped nearly 10 percent for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2013.

Here's what Dan Robrish, the Advocate's editor and publisher, posted:

Holy Toledo! Amtrak released ridership figures today -- for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2013, there were 123,153 passengers boarding and leaving trains at Elizabethtown. That's a 9.8 percent increase over the previous year and puts Elizabethtown ahead of the busiest Amtrak stations in 25 states -- including Toledo, Ohio, which had 68,463.

By contrast, Pittsburgh has 135,137, Robrish reported. Paoli, which is a stop on the Keystone Line between here and Philadelphia, has 175,299.

The numbers jibe with the growth in ridership at the train station over the past 10 to 15 years. Even during construction of the new facility, we on Elizabethtown Borough Council received reports that ridership jumped considerably.

This news comes on the heels of the construction of overflow parking at the end of Wilson Avenue where the train station is located. That lot was finished during the summer, bringing the entire train station project to completion. The project was funded through a $9.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant.

Work to begin on train station overflow parking Friday

Construction on the train station overflow parking lot and other improvements at the Elizabethtown Amtrak train station site is expected to begin Friday with preliminary site preparation. 

The borough office issued a notice that parking will be prohibited in the stone lot at the end of Wilson Avenue during construction activities. In addition, parking restrictions may be necessary for sections of Wilson Avenue and in the existing train station parking lot at certain times during the project to provide access to install sidewalks, curbing, an ADA ramp, crosswalks, motorcycle parking pads and other improvements.

The construction project will be addressed in two phases. Phase one includes construction of the overflow parking lot, lighting, crosswalks and sidewalks on Wilson Avenue, a shelter for the existing bicycle rack, additional sidewalks in the existing parking lot, retaining walls along the banks of the platforms, security cameras, and the paving of Wilson Avenue. This work is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 months. 

Phase two of the project includes the construction of stormwater management facilities and a pedestrian and bicycle pathway, including a bridge over Conoy Creek, that connects the train station with downtown Elizabethtown. This work is expected to begin in mid-summer. 

The $2.5 million construction project is fully funded with federal and state funds. The contractor has committed to minimizing the impact of construction on passengers and their train travel experience as much as possible, and we greatly appreciate your patience during construction.  

Please contact the Borough Office at 367-1700 if you have any questions or concerns.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra visits E-town

On a hot summer evening last Saturday, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra heated up the Freemasons Cultural Center at Masonic Village with one of its free summer concerts in Central Pennsylvania this week.

Dubbed "Celebrate America, Celebrate the Keystone," the orchestra and its supporters traveled to Elizabethtown via Amtrak. Amtrak, Gannett Fleming, Hershey Entertainment, PA Trips by Train, Michael Baker and Associates, HNTB, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Trans Systems and McCormick & Smith all were sponsors of the evening.

Under the direction of Stuart Malina, the orchestra performed to a packed house, with Elizabethtown Mayor Chuck Mummert reporting afterward that more than 900 people attended.

The orchestra's program was a crowd-pleasing event and perfect for a summer night, featuring selections such as "The Barber of Seville" Overture by Rossini and the Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams. The program allowed Malina and the musicians to get out of their classical skins, especially Malina who donned sunglasses and sang "You Went the Wrong Way Old King Louis."

Throughout the program, Malina was charming, funny and effacing, particularly when he "played" an old-fashioned typewriter during Anderson's "The Typewriter" with percussionist Christopher Rose sitting next to Malina playing the bell.

For a program that stretched over two hours, the orchestra's performance captured the heart of the crowd. From my perspective, the musicians seemed to feed off the energy in the room. Just prior to the Rodgers/Bennett piece "Victory at Sea, Symphonic Scenario," Malina had the crowd practice the wave -- and he and the orchestra members were duly impressed with the participation. And during the performance of the song, the crowd -- and the orchestra -- pulled off the wave under Malina's direction.

With two elementary aged sons, my wife and I were concerned that their attention would not last for a symphony performance. But the humor, the audience participation and -- most important -- the musicianship kept both of them at full attention throughout. In fact, my 8-year-old was so taken by Rose's drum solo during "Sing, Sing, Sing" that he sought out Rose after the show to ask about playing the drums. Rose was kind and generous as he spoke with my son and encouraged him to keep playing piano.

The evening started with the symphony and a few hundred supporters arriving from Harrisburg on Amtrak. After disembarking at the train station, they and some local officials ate a barbecued pork dinner at the station, braving the 90-plus degree weather and full sun.

 

 

 

Borough seeks official comments from public about train station overflow parking

Elizabethtown Borough is seeking community input on its project to construct 85 parking spaces near the Elizabethtown Train Station and move an abandoned freight station on that property to a new location.

If you would like to submit an official response to the borough's Determination of Effects Report, please email them to boro@etownonline.com by May 9. The input will be submitted to to the Federal Transit Administration. Following is a summary of the project.

This effort is the last stage of extensive renovations to the Elizabethtown Train Station, which were completed last year. As part of the project, the borough has submitted an application to the FTA for approval to use its remaining federal stimulus funds awarded for the Amtrak Train Station rehabilitation for two purposes:

• To construct an overflow and long-term parking lot at the end of Wilson Avenue
   
• Relocate the former freight station building that currently occupies the lot

The Borough recognizes the need for additional parking at the Amtrak station, and it has acquired two properties at the end of Wilson Avenue for the construction of an overflow and long term parking lot specifically for the Amtrak station. Residents and train riders may recall that Elizabethtown Borough awarded a contract for the parking lot construction last year. However, as the freight station building was deemed to have historical value, federal regulations required additional review regarding its status. The Borough withdrew the construction contract in deference to this review.

THE PROPOSAL AND REVIEW

The Federal Transit Administration has been presented with a report called a "Determination of Effects Report" that outlines the Borough’s proposal. The Borough expects to add approximately 85 additional parking spaces at the train station with the construction of the overflow parking lot. In addition to providing more parking spaces, design includes lighting, shade trees, and porous asphalt paving. The former freight station building currently occupying the lot was initially slated
for demolition, but the current proposal relocates it to the rear of the White Oak Mills site on West High Street, a short distance away on the same rail siding where the building currently sits. In this new location the building would be preserved and utilized by an active historic mill.

Discussions between the Borough of Elizabethtown and White Oak Mills for this project remain preliminary until approval is granted by the appropriate regulating agencies. However, the potential agreement would transfer ownership of the former freight station building to White Oak Mills. White Oak Mills is willing to abide by a covenant outlining preservation and maintenance of the historic building.

Under a related project, funded by a state grant awarded to Elizabethtown, the Borough has also been working with White Oak Mills to acquire an easement of 15 feet along the edge of an unimproved parking lot on West High Street to install stormwater facilities and a section of pedestrian and bicycle pathway connecting the Amtrak Train Station with downtown Elizabethtown. White Oak Mills would acquire a portion of an adjacent and unimproved property owned by the Borough as part of this project. These economic development improvements are demonstrated on the Master Plan for Downtown Elizabethtown and are consistent with the Regional Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2011 by the Borough and the three neighboring municipalities.

As a consulting party for historical resources, the Elizabethtown Historical Society has proposed alternatives to the Borough’s plans which are outlined in the Determination of Effects Report. The Historical Society is requesting that the former freight station building be maintained in its current location or relocated to a Borough-owned lot and be made available for public use as a train artifact museum.

The Borough is sensitive to the request to preserve the building and believes that the proposal for relocation to the White Oak Mills property exceeds expectations. This move will not only preserve the building but will allow it to be utilized and maintained in a function respectful of its history.

The Borough does not embrace the Historical Society’s proposal to maintain the building in its current location, as it would negatively impact the proposed parking lot facility. In addition, should the Borough be required to retain ownership of the building, excessive financial resources would be necessary to preserve and maintain the building and additional liability would be incurred by adding a building to its public facilities.

As a compromise, the Borough has offered an opportunity for the Historical Society to display train artifacts in the Amtrak Train Station. This arrangement could provide additional revenue for maintenance of the train station and may create the potential for extended public hours at the station.

It's done! E-town's Amtrak station dedicated

 After at least 13 years of debate, discussion, design, redesign and more discussion and debate, the Elizabethtown Train Station was rededicated Wednesday, May 5.

The station received a $9.3 million facelift thanks to funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) and planning from borough officials since the late 1990s.

Because the station had already been designed, it was considered "shovel ready" when President Barack Obama signed ARRA, commonly known as the federal stimulus.

Wednesday's ribbon cutting brought borough officials, including all members of Elizabethtown Borough Council, a deputy secretary from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, an executive from Amtrak and the regional director for the Federal Transit Administration, along with dozens of community members.

All gave high praise for the station, which now services 95,000 trips compared with 37,000 trips in the early 2000s.

The weather on Wednesday did not cooperate for an outdoor ceremony, but the driving rain did allow for an adequate demonstration of how the awnings over the platform do protect passengers waiting for trains to arrive.


Before the event started, a renovated historic Pullman train pulled into the station, allowing those gathered to peer into the windows.

After the train pulled out, everyone moved inside the old train station, where the waiting room has been renovated to a period look. In time, train riders will be able to purchase tickets from two ticket kiosks in the station. The station will also receive  an LED message board that will show how many minutes a train is from arriving, allowing riders to wait inside in cold or inclement weather until literally the last minute before a train arrives. Elizabethtown will be the first stop along the route from Philadelphia to Harrisburg that will have the message board. 

The station is truly a gem for  our community and will be a huge boost in the arm for economic development for Elizabethtown. Much credit goes to members of Borough Council from the last 15 years whose leadership helped make the station a reality. In addition, Borough Manager Roni Ryan oversaw the construction that started 1.5 years ago -- right after she was promoted to the job upon the retirement of long time Borough Manger Pete Whipple.

In many people's eyes, Whipple is the real leader of the project, who continued to make it a priority despite many challenges and setbacks. It was through his efforts working with PennDOT that the borough was able to secure the stimulus funding.

Continue to scroll down to see other photos from the ceremony.

Mayor Chuck Mummert checks out the Pullman train.

Borough Council President Phil Clark welcomes the crowd.

A poster showing the renovated station.

Clark with all who played a part in making the station a reality.

Toby Fauvre, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation

Amtrak Vice President Drew Galloway

Letitia Thompson, regional administrator for the Federal Transit Administration

Work on train station parking lot to begin; lot will be closed for 2 months

Word came last week that the parking lot at the Elizabethtown Train Station will be closed for two months starting May 17. The lot will be closed so curbing and electrical components can be installed. Eventually, the lot will be paved.

"It's something they (the contractor) wanted to do in warm weather months, and the time has come," Elizabethtown Borough Manager Roni Ryan told Borough Council last week.

Amtrak will distribute fliers to train riders and post signs at the train station to notify train riders about the lot closure. Riders also can use the 90 parking spaces at nearby Sycamore Square. The borough has an agreement with the owners there to allow parking during the train station construction.

Ryan added that the entire project is "moving along beautifully." She said canopies on the train platform are starting to take shape, and a portion of the slate roof on the old train station building has been completed. In addition, an opening has been cut for one of two elevators that will be installed. Riders can plan on some intermittent track outages through June.

Portion of train station platform opens

A newly installed portion of the platform at the Elizabethtown Train Station opened this month, serving Amtrak riders who are headed north to Harrisburg.

The platform is now raised off the ground, meaning that riders no longer will have to use a step stool to enter trains. And those using wheelchairs will be able to roll right onto the trains.

Borough Manager Roni Ryan reported that the contractor, Lobar Construction, expects to have a portion of the southbound platform open at the beginning of March.

Until the project is complete, riders access the platforms via temporary stairs that have been built on either side of the tracks. The old stairs in the tunnel are closed and will be renovated and reopened.

On both sides, the platforms will eventually be extended so that entire trains can stop and riders board at any door on the trains.

In the meantime, and especially during the winter, work  has continued on the train station building,  including safe removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials. At a recent Borough Council meeting, council members discussed what kind of use might occur in the station once the project is completed. Council and borough officials are open to creative ideas.

Elizabethtown received $9.3 million in federal stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the project. Borough officials had been working and planning for the project for more than 10 years.

More track outages start at train station

Train riders at the Elizabethtown Train Station may have noticed track outages that started yesterday. The outages are in effect for the north side platform until Jan. 8.

As occurred last month, the outages will occur between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. so the contractor can  install platform decking for the newly extended platform. Signs are posted to direct train riders to the proper platform during the outage.

Work is progressing on schedule and significant progress is expected in the months ahead. The south side platform decking installation is scheduled for Jan. 11 to 15.  All of the work is weather permitting.  Once the decking has been put in place and the temporary stairs erected, then work will proceed on the main portions of the existing platform.

Work continues inside the train station building. Hazardous materials such as asbestos have been removed, and the new floor in the basement of the building has been poured. Work is proceeding to shore the floor joists for the first floor. Roofing work will continue with the installation of a completely new slate roof that will match the former roof in style and construction.

PARKING NOTE:  The borough and Susquehanna Wagman Associates have signed an agreement that will permit riders to use the rear of the Sycamore Square commercial development for temporary parking during the train station construction project. Ninety spaces have been set aside for use by riders provided that the riders obey the designated parking areas and respect the property. Signs will be erected that specify the areas that are designated for temporary parking (those spaces closest to Bainbridge Street behind the vacant commercial properties).

In addition, two-hour parking signs will be installed on Masonic Drive in front of the commercial properties to preclude daily parking by train riders. Parking in front of the Sycamore Square development impacts the customers and staff of the tenant occupying the building closest to the train station. The borough will be responsible for snow plowing in the lot during the construction period.  Vehicles and items in the vehicles are the sole responsibility of the owners and neither of Susquehanna Wagman Associates nor the borough.

Track outage scheduled for tomorrow at E-town Train Station

Elizabethtown borough officials received notification this morning that a track outage will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Elizabethtown Train Station.

The outage is part of the ongoing construction and renovations of Amtrak station. It will allow the contractor to pour the concrete walls for the north side of the platform. This will be a one day outage. As they have this fall, riders are advised to follow the signs to enter the proper platform. All trains will operate on the existing schedule.

A second track outage is planned for next week, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, to allow the contractor to pour the concrete walls for the south side platform. While Amtrak officials are still reviewing the request, borough officials expect it will be approved. This track outage will not affect the train schedule and will be for one day only during the times as stated above.

Work at train station progresses

Work at the Elizabethtown train station is progressing, starting again today after a holiday break for the contractor.

All of the shoring work for Phase I has been completed. There will be no need for track outages until after the Christmas holiday. The next track outage is planned for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day for the installation of the platform planks on the north side. The borough and the contractor remind train riders to adhere to the signs directing them to the proper platform during this track switch.

Work in a wide range of areas is continuing. Water, sewer and electric service trenching has been completed as well. Conduit was set in place for the gas service to the train station building, but UGI Utilities has not performed the work as of today. The trailer for the construction management firm was set in place in front of the station this past week. Hazardous materials abatement will conclude inside the station building once the proper permits have been received for the disposal of these materials.

In the weeks ahead, additional site storm sewer work will continue. The footings for the temporary steps on both sides of the platform have been poured. Weather permitting, the new slate roof on the building should be installed before the end of the year. Demolition of the exterior piers on the platform will be performed in December.

The borough and the construction manager are fielding shop drawings and submittals on a routine basis on a host of items for the project. All parties, including our contractor and Amtrak, are communicating effectively and coordinating the work to improve the overall project schedule.

Finally, borough officials has provided Amtrak with the architectural renderings for the project to display in the kiosks on the platform. The renderings were available at open houses held in late summer -- if you didn't see the views of the new platform then, this will give you a glimpse of the finished project.

Track outages will begin at train station next week

Work at the Elizabethtown Train Station will cause track outages beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27. This will result in the closure of both the eastbound and westbound platforms -- one at a time -- until approximately Nov. 20.

The installation of pilings will result in the following schedule:

• From Oct. 27 to Nov. 6, the north side (Wilson Avenue side) platform will be  out of service.
  
  
• The contractor will move to the south side (Masonic Drive side) platform from Nov. 9 to  Nov. 20.
   
• No track outages will be permitted from Nov. 22 to Nov. 29.

Signage will be prominently placed to alert riders which platform they are to access to meet their regularly scheduled train.

The pilings are part of sheeting and shoring work, which will help secure the train tracks as construction crews prepare for the construction of the new platforms. Amtrak is allowing the work to be done between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. The Elizabethtown Borough and Lobar Inc., the contractor, are pleased that Amtrak is allowing for the work to be done during the day, which will result in a shorter time period for this portion of the phase one construction work.

Installing the sheeting and shoring during the day will also lead to less evening disruption for residents as the work involved is quite loud. Amtrak personnel will divert trains outside of Elizabethtown to one track or the other for this work to commence.

Train riders are reminded to that they will be able to access all trains as scheduled. They simply need to follow the signs to the proper platform.

The work is weather dependent and this schedule may be adjusted if it rains. The borough will notify riders if there is a significant change to the schedule detailed above -- and the borough continues to appreciate everyone's patience and support during this project.

Work on train station well underway

Work at the Elizabethtown Train Station has started, including a fair amount of work inside the old building itself. Anyone who has visited the train station recently can tell work is happening. A chain link fence surrounds the area immediately around the old building, and signs on the fence direct pedestrians to a path to the rear of the fence from the back of the parking lot.


At Borough Council's workshop meeting Oct. 1, Borough Manager Pete Whipple reported that crews from Lobar Construction are working on some hazardous materials abatement inside the building -- all of which the borough knew about prior to the project. The work includes removing some old transformers and asbestos that was in caulking.

Whipple also told council that sheeting and shoring work, which is some of the most critical of the project because it will keep the train tracks in place and secure, will be done during the daytime. The work involves driving the materials into the ground with a large hammer, which creates a very loud banging. Lobar submitted a proposal to Amtrak to do the work during the day, and Amtrak approved the plan. Amtrak crews will reroute trains after Lobar meets certain advanced notification requirements.

Whipple said that work alone would take eight weeks.

"We are extremely appreciative that Amtrak has taken a favorable view of the submittal," Whipple said, adding that it is "phenomenally good news for the borough." That's not hyperbole, because the work could have been done at night. And with two apartment buildings and Masonic Village all within a stone's throw of the train station, such work done at night would have been disruptive to an entire section of the community.

Sen. Specter to visit Elizabethtown Train Station

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter will visit the Elizabethtown Train Station Monday at 11:15 a.m. to promote the jobs that the federal stimulus is generating.

Specter's visit coincides with the start of the project. At 5 a.m. Monday, Lobar Construction of Dillsburg will begin moving equipment to the site, setting up an on-site office, connecting phone lines and making preparations for the work. All of this will occur in front of the train station, and the borough staff ask commuters for their patience during the project, which is expected to take a year to complete.

The project is starting thanks to Elizabethtown's receiving authorization from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Borough Council is grateful for PennDOT's approval so that a fabulous project that will benefit Elizabethtown, Lancaster County and the Commonwealth.

Pa. budget fiasco delays train station project

Construction was to have started today on the Elizabethtown Train Station, but the budget fiasco in Harrisburg delayed the project.

The reason, according to Borough Manager Pete Whipple, is that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is administering the federal stimulus money. And since there is no state budget, PennDOT will not release any of the money, which will reimburse Elizabethtown for the work on the train station.

Because the borough has taken out a loan for the project, the money is available, and Whipple told Borough Council that he even told PennDOT the borough would pay and wait for reimbursement. But without a signed reimbursement agreement, he said, PennDOT did not want to go that route.

For the record, Borough Council is not upset with PennDOT. As with residents across the Commonwealth, we can't believe our Legislature can't come to an agreement and, in turn, get a project that will provide jobs and economic development on track.

Borough Council approves recommendation of train station contractor

At its July 16 meeting, Elizabethtown Borough Council unanimously approved to recommend to PennDOT that Lobar Construction of Dillsburg is the low bidder for the train station project.

By all accounts from members of Borough Council, it was a historic moment to vote on the recommendation. For at least 10 years, Borough Manager Pete Whipple and the rest of the borough staff have worked on the project. Although 12 to 18 months of actual construction work remains, it is an honor to have been a part of the project for which other council members and leaders laid the groundwork.

Lobar came in with a bid of nearly $5.9 million. The borough received seven bids, which were extremely competitive. The difference between Lobar and the No. 2 bidder was just $7,000.

For the record, under an agreement between PennDOT and Elizabethtown, the project cannot be altered so the borough can keep all of the stimulus money. Elizabethtown was in line to receive $8 million in federal stimulus funding for the construction, and because the winning bid was much lower the borough will return a balance of the funding so more money will be available for other projects along Amtrak's Keystone Corridor. Speaking as one council member, this is the absolute right thing to do, and I am very grateful that this project is coming to fruition.

Update on train station project

What's the status of the Elizabethtown Train Station project? WGAL's Meredith Jorgensen did a great update story on July 8.

In the meantime, here are the details:

Bids were opened about two weeks ago, and the apparent low bidder is Lobar Construction of Dillsburg, with a bid of $5.9 million. That's nearly $2 million less than what the borough, Amtrak and PennDOT were estimating. Because the project is being funded with federal stimulus money, the borough will likely return a balance of the money so the government can allocate it to other projects.

At the moment, borough staff and PennDOT are discussing how much the borough needs for contingency funds and to address alternate bids, one of which potentially can lower the cost of the project. Borough Manager Pete Whipple said PennDOT and the borough should complete those talks in time for Borough Council to make an official recommendation by its July 16 meeting.

If all goes well, work could begin next month.

He's really Dr. Uninformed

This week, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), whom George Will called the Senate's Dr. No, released a list of federal stimulus projects that he believes are the most wasteful. For reasons that can only be blamed on shoddy research, he listed the Elizabethtown Train Station project.

His "report," a term that I will only use in its very loosest terms since it would flunk any English 101 course for quality research, screams: "Taxpayers Taken for a Ride: Nearly $10 Million to be Spent to Renovate a Century Old Train Station that Hasn’t Been Used in 30 Years."

If the good senator and his staff had bothered to read any of the news reports cited, he would have known that the $9.4 million Elizabethtown is receiving will pay to renovate and revamp not an old building but the platform used by more than 80,000 riders annually, paving the parking lot those riders use and making the station handicapped accessible. Yes, a portion of the money will go to renovate the existing building that has been empty and unused for 30 years -- but not even close to the entire amount.

Now, I am not naive enough to think Sen. Coburn isn't trying to score political points. If he wants to do that, fine -- he just needs to do his research, stop shooting from the hip and stop making 0ffensive comments.

Train station project out to bid

The Elizabethtown Train Station project has gone out to bid, with the intent of opening sealed bids at 11 a.m. June 12. In the bid advertisement, the borough says "it is the intent of Elizabethtown to award the contract on the basis of the lowest bid determined using the base bid plus the alternates selected to utilize all of the available funding."

Elizabethtown is in line to receive $9.3 million in federal stimulus funding money to pay for the project, which has been in the planning stages for the past 10 years.

Borough Manager Pete Whipple told Borough Council last week that once the winning bid is selected, shovels will hit the ground in August. The entire project will take 12 to 14 months and will include paving of the parking lot. In addition, the borough recently purchased a dilapidated building in the 400 block of East High Street, across from White Oak Mills, that will be torn down and the property used for satellite parking.

I have to say, as one member of Borough Council, that seeing this project come to fruition is incredibly exciting for the community. Credit goes to previous members of Borough Council who worked to get the project to this stage and to Whipple for his tenacity working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in the past year to secure funding.

E-town wins Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence

Elizabethtown recently won a 2009 Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence for the public-private partnership between the borough and Mars Snackfood US to extend West College Avenue and the $70 million expansion of the chocolate factory's manufacturing plant.

The borough picked up the award at the 13th annual Governor's Award ceremony April 15 at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Elizabethtown was one of 11 government entities from across the state to be recognized for their foward-thinking approaches to revitalize towns, create jobs and improve the quality of life for residents.

Elizabethtown's award came under the category of Promoting Community and Economic Revitalization. The program for the ceremony indicates that the borough supported the expansion at the chocolate plant for the following reasons:

• To maintain a major employer in the borough and secure the most-productive use of a large, low-impact industrial facility in downtown Elizabethtown for generations to come.
• To create a new entrance to downtown Elizabethtown and a "second square" that serves as a conduit to Mars Snackfood US, Elizabethtown College and Masonic Village.
• Spark the beginning of major economic development efforts in downtown Elizabethtown

This project is one of the most significant for Elizabethtown in recent memory, especially given that Mars' main competitor nearby announced last year that it is moving chocolate manufacturing out of the United States. For a major corporation to make such a significant investment in this community is a boon to our tax base and our efforts to boost the local economy.

As noted in other posts, the second phase of the West College Avenue project, which will include the construction of a bridge and connect with Market Street, is on target to go out for bids this summer. When that is complete, and the renovations of the Amtrak train station are done, expect Elizabethtown to become a force to be reckoned with in western Lancaster County.

Work on train station could begin by summer

Renovations to the Elizabethtown Train Station likely will begin this summer, with the project ready to go out for bids by early May at the latest. Once started, construction will take about 15 months.

Borough Manager Pete Whipple provided an update on the project last week and said that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wants the project to move quickly. He said borough staff will do "six months of work" in the next 30 days to ensure everything is in place for the project to go to bid.

PennDOT and Amtrak held a news conference at the train station Friday, April 2, to announce $9.3 million in funding to renovate the station.