City wants to upgrade train station

SANDUSKY — City officials are looking at an upgrade to Sandusky's train station, which would include combining it into a facility to also serve as a Greyhound bus station and Sandusky Transit System building. When the Sandusky city commission meets Monday, it will consider spending up to $49,500 to hire AECOM Technical Services Inc., a planning and civil engineering firm with offices in Cleveland and Southfield, Michigan, to carry out a study for the proposed new station. That's a first step. The city plans to seek funding later, city communications manager Tom Horsman said. Officials hope to obtain an earmark for a new station from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, when Congress approves another round of funding for local community projects, Horsman said. In a memo, city manager Eric Wobser explained that, as AECOM carries out its study, it will look at options for a combined station, including whether it should be at the train station's current location at 1200 North Depot St. or at another location. Greyhound's current bus stop in Sandusky is at 1230 N. Depot St. The study is expected to take about 90 days. If the commission climbs aboard on the proposed study, funding would come from a $30,000 grant from the Erie County Community Foundation and $19,500 through federally funded Community Development Block Grant dollars. Current Amtrak service in Sandusky is only available in the middle of the night, but Amtrak has promised to move toward daytime service. If there's an upgrade of service, city officials want to be ready, Horsman said.