A number of stations in California‘s bay area have had their accessibility infrastructure upgraded, thanks to a $20.8 million investment.

The improvement works involved repairing and replacing sections of platforms, ramps and sidewalks, and renovating station entrances and toilets.

In the previous fiscal year, a total of 20 Amtrak stations were upgraded to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it is expected that a further 35 will have accessibility improvements completed by the end of the financial year.

Some of these have already finished, such as at Durham railway station in North Carolina, and Baltimore Penn station in the state of Maryland.

The specific stations which benefitted from improvements in this latest round are Martinez, Hayward, Fremont, and Oakland-Coliseum.

The largest proportion of the investment was used at Martinez, in San Francisco‘s East Bay area.

Now visitors to the station will notice that a new ticket counter has been built, and warning structures have been installed to help visually-impaired passengers.

There is also a new step-free route between the bus stop and the station platform.

At Hayward and Fremont stations, environmentally-friendly LED bulbs were installed and disability-friendly signs were put up.

Meanwhile, at Oakland-Coliseum Station, there are now new signs, bins and walking routes, as well as a resurfaced platform.

The majority of the funding for these improvements was provided by federal investments.

We’re delivering a new era of rail while bringing greater accessibility to stations nationwide. As we prioritize station accessibility throughout Amtrak, we are thrilled that these Bay Area stations can provide a welcoming and comfortable experience for all customers.

Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera

I applaud Amtrak for leading the way in ensuring our public transit is inclusive for everyone. Federal investments like this demonstrate that rail travel is safe and accessible for Californians.

U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler

We applaud Amtrak’s ADA Project initiative to improve accessibility along the Capitol Corridor route. These efforts make it easier for passengers to navigate stations and platforms prior to boarding our trains and allows for a more inclusive travel experience.

Capitol Corridor Managing Director Robert Padgette