Rail depot preservation project wraps up in Lawrence

Looking outside the window at the newly restored Lawrence Santa Fe Depot.

Following nearly nine years of planning and almost a year of construction, the historic Santa Fe Depot used by Amtrak and BNSF is set be completed this month.

The City of Lawrence, which owns the facility, will cut the ribbon in February, 2019 to rededicate the facility following the $1.8 million renovation project. It is funded through KDOT’s Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funds, which is federal funding for non-traditional transportation projects.        

Crews at work outside the Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence.

“We’re excited to be at this point,” said Diane Stoddard, City of Lawrence Assistant City Manager.

The building dates to 1955 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The City of Lawrence, in cooperation with local preservation organizations, applied for the TAP funding, which reimburses 80 percent of the funds while the other 20 percent are provided by the project sponsor.

A view from the platform at the Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence. 

Federal TAP grants administered through KDOT fall into three general categories: bicycle/pedestrian, historic and scenic or environmental. The depot project received funds in the historic category because it supports rail transportation in Kansas.

The project preserved much of the interior, including artwork, furnishing, lighting and architectural features. It also provided the ability to build ADA-compliant access and restrooms, repair the roof and install geothermal HVAC and solar panels.

The rededication event is set for Feb. 22, 2019, at the depot.