Amherst County
TRAIN DEPOT PROJECT
Table of
Contents
I.
I. Brief History of the
Amherst Train Depot
II.
II. Train Stations in
Virginia
III. III. Local Actions
regarding Amherst
Train Depot
IV.
IV. Current Cost
Expenses and
Summary
V.
V. Relevant Questions
VI.
VI. Summary
Train Depot -Brief History
 1913 – Station constructed
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by Southern Railway
1920’s – Station remodeled
with freight room
1940’s – Three passenger
trains per day
1960’s Passenger service
discontinues
1970’s Freight service
discontinues, building
stands empty
Train Depot -Brief History
 1982 – Norfolk Southern
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forms
1985 – Mr. Marshall Mays
purchases station
2000 – VDOT plans
straightening of Depot Street
2001 – Feasibility Study
performed by DGP
Architects
2008 – Station stabilized
and relocated by CL Lewis
Amherst Train Depot
Potential Uses for the
Depot have been:
- Office space for Chamber
of Commerce
--Office space for Economic
Development
--Office space for
Tourism/Visitor Center
Picture of Amherst County Train
Depot
Train Depot Projects in Virginia
Farmville, Virginia
 Owned by the Town of Farmville
 Used for rental for public or
private meeting space
 No office space is available
Dublin, Virginia
 Privately owned
 Pulaski Farm Bureau sold to an
individual and is now used for
professional office space.
Train Depot Projects in Virginia
Purcellville, Virginia
Pulaski, Virginia
Owned by the Town of Pulaski
Used for bicycle rental and public and
private meeting space
 Previously used for Chamber of
Commerce office
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Owned by the Purcellville Preservation
Association
Restrooms for trail users
Meeting space with available kitchen
Water fountain and benches for pedestrians
Notable Local Actions Taken
 January 15, 2002 – BOS adopted a resolution requesting
the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish the
Project, agreeing to pay a minimum of 20 percent of total
cost of project.
 December 2, 2003 – BOS adopted resolution agreeing to
serve as Project sponsor.
 February 3, 2004 – County BOS passed motion authorizing
the County Administrator to develop a design service
agreement with Dalgliesh, Eichman, Gilpin & Paxton for
the next phase of the project.
Notable Local Actions Taken
 April 6, 2004 – Motion by the BOS, for a member to serve as a liason
on the “Friends of the Amherst Station Foundation”. Mr. Vandall was
appointed as the member.
 March 3, 2005 – Contract between Friends and DEGP Architect for a
Relocation and Adaptive Reuse of the Historic Amherst Train Station
Project; contract specifically mentions Amherst County as the Project
Fiscal Agent.
 October 17, 2006 – BOS adopts resolution, agrees that: “if the County
of Amherst subsequently elects to cancel this project, the County of
Amherst hereby agrees to reimburse the Virginia Department of
Transportation for the total amount of costs expended by the
Department through the date the department is notified of such
cancellation”.
Notable Local Actions Taken
 January 23, 2008 – Train
Depot was moved from its
original location to its current
location.
 December 6, 2011 – Letter to
Garrett Rouzer from David
Proffitt that has attached the
signed agreement for the site
plan development for the
Amherst Depot Project to
proceed with work.
Notable Local Actions Taken
 October 29, 2012 – Letter from Clarence Monday to
H.W. Chenault, VDOT, regarding future funding.
 November 19, 2012 – Letter from H.W. Chenault,
VDOT, points out that “preservation and
rehabilitation of historic depots is still an eligible
Transportation Alternatives (TA) activity…”
Current Costs and Expenses
Relevant Questions
Questions
 What can be counted towards
the County match?
 What is the assessed value of
the building and land?
 What is the cost and purpose of
the stormwater system?
Response
 The value of the property contributed
toward the project, and value of labor
and services.
 $58,000 (.813 Acres-Land) / $9,400
Building (Appraised Value 6/28/06)
/ $132,321 Cost of Land purchased
from Mays Family
 Stormwater management is required
by the State of Virginia. The system
includes a retention pond, which will
be converted to a bio-filtration
system. This also includes several
drop inlets, associated piping and
erosion and sediment control
measures.
Summary
 January 15, 2002 - County
approved a Resolution requesting
the Commonwealth Transportation
Board to establish the Project,
agreeing to play a minimum of 20
percent of the total cost of the
project.
 Phase I – Completed the relocation
and stabilization of building.
 Phase II – Waiting on VDOT site
plan approval, potential shortfall of
funding.
 Phase III – Grant funding needed
to complete project.
Summary
 County will need to
determine the proposed
use of the building.
 Grant must be submitted
by February 1, 2013 for
Phase III.
 Grants by the CTB
typically are awarded in
the Summer after the
grant is submitted in
February.
Summary
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County must secure approximately
$863,189 of funds to complete the
project (includes shortfall from Phase
II).
The estimated projected amount of
total funds that the County will be
responsible for is $336,897 dollars
(includes expenses from Phase I).
The estimated local cost to finish the
project (Phase II & Phase III is
$285,770.
September 20, 2011, the BOS
appropriated $95,000, therefore, the
estimated balance remaining to be
appropriated of local money is
$190,770.
The estimated payback to VDOT if the
County ceases the project today is
$510,113.