Kalamazoo Transportation Center

42°17′44″N 85°35′03″W / 42.29556°N 85.58417°W / 42.29556; -85.58417Owned byCity of KalamazooLine(s)Amtrak Michigan LinePlatforms1 side platform, 1 island platformTracks2Bus stands20Bus operators Amtrak Thruway
Greyhound Lines
Indian Trails
Metro TransitConstructionParkingYes; paidAccessibleYesOther informationStation codeAmtrak: KALHistoryOpened1887Rebuilt2006PassengersFY 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

LocationKalamazoo, Michigan, USAArchitectCyrus EidlitzArchitectural styleRomanesqueNRHP reference No.75000949^[2]Significant datesAdded to NRHPJuly 11, 1975Designated MSHSFebruary 21, 1975

The Kalamazoo Transportation Center is an intermodal complex in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. Both Amtrak and Greyhound provide regular service, and the center is also the major downtown transfer hub for Kalamazoo's Metro Transit bus system.^[3] It is the second-busiest Amtrak station in Michigan.^[4]

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.^[5] 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

The original depot was built in 1887 by the Michigan Central Railroad, to a design by architect Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz,^[6] replacing an earlier structure. Regular passenger rail service between Kalamazoo and Detroit had commenced in 1846.^[7] In the main part of its history in the latter 19th century and early 20th century, the depot 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).^[8]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 11, 1975.^[9][10]

The station was rebuilt as a multi-modal facility in the early 21st century.^[when?] The project was a collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities, with the Department of Transportation awarding a $3.8 million grant.^[11]

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.^[12]

References

Further reading

• Kohrman, David (2003). Kalamazoo, Michigan. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2048-9.

External links

Media related to Kalamazoo Transportation Center at Wikimedia Commons

• Kalamazoo, MI – Amtrak
• Kalamazoo, MI – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Kalamazoo Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• Kalamazoo County Listings on the National Register of Historic Places
• Kalamazoo Transportation Center (Michigan Passenger Stations)
• Kalamazoo Station (Ron's Amtrak Photos)