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Newbern Depot’s New ADA- Compliant Platform Makes Riding More Accessible For Everyone
WILLIAM NORTHCUTT
In May, Newbern Mayor Pam Mabry cut the ribbon on a new, ADA- compliant, platform at the historical Newbern Depot/Amtrak station. She said, “Amtrak invested $3.5M in this project for us and the community to upgrade the platform and make it ADA compliant.” She added, “It means they’re [Amtrak trains] are going to keep coming.”
A multitude of local leaders attended, including Mabry, members of the Newbern City Board, Dyer County Mayor David Quick, and Dyersburg Mayor John Holden, and chamber of Commerce CEO Slater Barr, as well as citizens, business leaders, State of Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Mark Ezell, Amtrak Director of Government Affairs Todd Stennis, and Amtrak Vice-President David Handera.
When asked why this platform and relatively small station are important
to Amtrak, Handera replied, “There’s no difference between a small
station and a large station—every station is important to Amtrak.” He added, “We’re not just focused on big stations; we’re focused on every station...making them compliant. He concluded, “We want every passenger to have the same unencumbered experience getting on the train and getting off the train,” he stated. He noted that Newbern’s train station is “beautiful” and added, “Train stations are the front door to the community.”
JOSH REAVES
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