Kalamazoo Transportation Center

The Kalamazoo Transportation Center is an intermodal complex in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. Amtrak and Greyhound provide regular service there.[3] The center is also the major downtown transfer hub for Kalamazoo's Metro Transit bus system.

Kalamazoo, MI
The 1887-built Michigan Central Railroad depot in 2014
General information
Location459 North Burdick Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan
United States
Coordinates42°17′44″N 85°35′03″W
Owned byCity of Kalamazoo
Line(s)Amtrak Michigan Line
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks2
Bus stands20
Bus operatorsBus transport Amtrak Thruway
Bus transport Greyhound Lines
Bus transport Indian Trails
Bus transport Metro Transit
Construction
ParkingYes; paid
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: KAL
History
Opened1887
Rebuilt2006
Passengers
FY 202273,613[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Dowagiac
toward Chicago
 Blue Water Battle Creek
toward Port Huron
Wolverine Battle Creek
toward Pontiac
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Niles
toward Chicago
 Lake Cities Battle Creek
toward Pontiac
Dowagiac
toward Chicago
 International Battle Creek
toward Toronto
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station
Mattawan
toward Chicago
 Michigan Central Railroad
Main Line
 Comstock
toward Buffalo
Portage
toward Elkhart
 Kalamazoo Branch Argenta
toward Grand Rapids
Alamo
toward South Haven
 South Haven Branch Terminus
Michigan Central Depot (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
LocationKalamazoo, Michigan, USA
ArchitectCyrus Eidlitz
Architectural styleRomanesque
NRHP reference No.75000949[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 11, 1975
Designated MSHSFebruary 21, 1975
Location
Kalamazoo, MI is located in Michigan
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo, MI
Location within Michigan

It is served by Amtrak's Blue Water and Wolverine trains and was formerly a stop for the International, which had started in 1982 as joint operation by Via Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto, was discontinued in 2004.[4] Amtrak does not allow passengers to check luggage at Kalamazoo, but does permit carry-on of up to two suitcases plus "personal items" such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant gear.

Development
Looking north towards the train station. The new bus bays are to the left and right.

The original depot was built in 1887 by the Michigan Central Railroad, to a design by architect Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz,[5] replacing an earlier structure. In the main part of its history in the latter 19th century and early 20th century, it hosted trains for the Michigan Central and the New York Central. Major NYC named trains passing through the station included the Canadian (east to Detroit and Toronto), the Chicago Mercury (east to Detroit) and the Wolverine (NYC train) (east to New York via Detroit and southwestern Canada, in contrast to the modern train).[6]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 11, 1975.[7][8]

The station was rebuilt as a multi-modal facility in the early 21st century. The project was a collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities, with the Department of Transportation awarding a $3.8 million grant.[9]

Description

The original Kalamazoo depot is a single-story Romanesque structure with a high hip-roofed central mass, and smaller hip-roofed sections on each end. A gable-roofed porch with a Syrian arch protrudes on one side of the central mass. The main structure has strong horizontal lines, counterbalanced by brick chimneys and an octagonal cupola that extend vertically from the roof. A conical turret and rock-faced masonry arches in the facade provide the Romanesque feel.[10]

References
  1. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: State of Michigan" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. Jessup, Kathy (September 16, 2006). "Transportation center off to smooth start". Kalamazoo Gazette.
  4. Matt Melzer (April 23, 2004). "Final Run of the Amtrak / VIA International". TrainWeb.org. Retrieved August 4, 2015. From 1982, Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada had jointly operated the International train between Chicago and Toronto
  5. Potter, Janet Greenstein (1996). Great American Railroad Stations. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 344. ISBN 978-0471143895.
  6. June 1951 New York Central timetable, Tables 7, 15, 26 http://streamlinermemories.info/NYC/NYC51-6TT.pdf
  7. Kalamazoo County Listings
  8. Kohrman (2003), 23.
  9. "$3.8 Million Transit Grant Will Help Revitalize Downtown Kalamazoo". U.S. Department of Transportation. October 19, 2004. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
  10. John Kern (April 22, 1975), NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY-- NOMINATION FORM: Michigan Central Depot, File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Michigan, 1964 - 2013

Further reading

Media related to Kalamazoo Transportation Center at Wikimedia Commons

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