This week we will create a new transportation center that will bring thousands of people into Troy.

Troy Union Square
Location: Four-corner intersection of River and Adams Streets.

At one time, Troy was the hub of several railroads meeting in downtown at Union Station between Fulton and Broadway. During the 1950's, rail left Troy, Union Station was demolished, and most of the tracks were torn up.

Today, Troy needs a new train station and rail connections that can be used by our high tech businesses, RPI, Russell Sage, and others, but also as a historic steam excursion rail line that brings back the thrill of the old time steam locomotives of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

An historic 19th century steam train between Troy and Rensselaer would carry destination tourists from the Albany area to Troy and generate huge tourism dollars. It could also become an alternative for Albany workers living in Troy to commute to work each day. A Schenectady built ALCO steam engine, currently being restored by the Mohawk Hudson chapter of the National Railway Society, could be the center piece of such an excursion train, or perhaps one of the existing 8 historic railways already existing in NYS (Arcade & Attica RR, Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride, New York & Lake Erie RR, Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley RR, Catskill Mountain RR, Tioga Scenic RR, Batten Kill Rambler, & Adirondack Scenic RR), would agree to run such a route.

The new Union Station, classically designed, would be built at the site of the New York Central yards, running the length of Adams from River to the Jones Bell Foundry on the south side of Adams & First. Existing track bed exists at the site and is currently used by freight traffic. The tracks have been upgraded and are rated for passenger service. This track runs over the old Troy and Greenbush lines, originally completed in 1845, into Rensselaer, not far from the new railroad station. Union Station can be attached to a new building that will serve as a bus terminal, which in turn will be attached to the Jones Bell Foundry on the southwest corner of Adams and First. This bell foundry museum would be incorporated into the train station and become a permanent exhibit on the history of bell making in Troy. The bell museum can serve as an orientation point for tourism information about Troy and the Capital District. Behind the train station, the existing NY Central freight building can be restored and turned into small specialty shops or restaurants to serve the train traffic.

Directly across the station and museum, a 5 level car garage can be built on the site of the old Troy police precinct building, just east of the old shirt factory (Old Brick Furniture now). The shirt factory can be rehabbed into offices, retail, apartments, restaurants, and galleries.

Senator Bruno announced a proposed development on the river that would hold 4 replica ships and provide retail and educational centers. Rather than place this proposal near Liberty, it would fit in nicely along the river adjacent to the train station. Imagine coming into Troy on a steam train and seeing replicas of the USS Monitor, old Dutch ships, and Hudson River Sloops docked and ready to board.

Ferry Hook and Trolley

Adjacent to the train station and terminating at the end of Adams Street at the Hudson, and serving as the southern terminus of Vanderheyden Square, a ferry/water taxi can take people from Troy to Albany and back. A small parking lot can be accommodated at the southwest corner of River and Adams (where they meet). This would be next to the Ferry and behind the Vanderheyden Square retail complex. I also proposed a ferry at River and Ferry, the first ferry site in Troy, but both could be accommodated.

The smaller two story parking lot would house a trolley barn so that a 19th century replica trolley can take visitors/shoppers from the train down the middle of River Street (the old trolley tracks should still be under River Street) to the hotel complex at the corner of Division and River, around the access road, past the new Ilium park, and up to Congress Street where visitors could disembark and shop in new public farmers market and the old historic part of River Street (Antique District).

My proposal in essence is this. At the corner of River and Adams would be a train station, water ferry, bus station, trolley, car garages, and bell and nautical museum. Tell me that wouldn't drive tourists to Troy!

Next week, boat building and a museum complex with worldwide importance!