:Columbia Station (Washington)

File:Amtrak platform at Columbia Station - Wenatchee, WA.jpg's Empire Builder]]

Columbia Station spans two city blocks in downtown Wenatchee, bound to the west by Wenatchee Avenue and to the north by Kittitas Street. The bus platforms are located on the west half of the complex, consisting of 16 bays arranged around a loop and central island, including an electric bus charger. The three-story station building is located in the northeast corner of the block and includes the Link Transit guest services center, a passenger waiting room, offices, public restrooms, and a cafe. A set of separate bus bays are located on Columbia Street and are used by intercity buses.{{cite web |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Link Transit Ride Guide (Schedule Book #48) |pages=2, 71–72 |url=http://www.linktransit.com/document_center/CURRENT%20SCHEDULE%20BOOK/BOOK%2048.pdf |publisher=Link Transit |access-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402150428/http://linktransit.com/document_center/CURRENT%20SCHEDULE%20BOOK/BOOK%2048.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Link Transit Transit Development Plan 2018–2023 and 2017 Annual Report |pages=3, 5–6 |url=http://www.linktransit.com/2018-2023%20TDP%20and%202017%20Annual%20Report%20DRAFT%20(7-24-2018).pdf |publisher=Link Transit |access-date=January 5, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} train platform is located across Columbia Street from the rest of the complex, adjacent to a park and ride lot with 67 stalls.{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=March 28, 1997 |title=Link prepares for depot opening |page=3 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite web |title=Park & Rides |url=http://www.linktransit.com/routes_and_schedules/park_and_rides.php |publisher=Link Transit |access-date=January 5, 2020}} Link Transit owns the building, bus bays, and parking lot, while BNSF Railway owns the train platform and other facilities.{{cite web |title=Wenatchee, WA (WEN) |url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/wenatchee-wa-wen/ |work=Great American Stations |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=January 5, 2020}} The Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail runs a block to the east of the train platform on the banks of the Columbia River.{{cite news |last=Maher |first=Stephen |date=May 13, 1997 |title=Warehouse district lures recreation firms |page=16 |work=The Wenatchee World}}

The station has several pieces of public artwork designed by local residents and schoolchildren in 1997.{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=July 11, 1997 |title=Columbia Station to light up: Link will take you to dedication ceremony for transfer center |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The building lobby has a large panoramic mural by Jan Cook Mack that depicts the Wenatchee Valley from Burch Mountain. The wall of the outer bus platform has 276 ceramic tiles painted by elementary school students from eight school districts within the Link Transit service area.{{cite news |last=Kraft |first=Dave |date=July 11, 1997 |title=Artwork livens up the Columbia Station |page=2 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=October 10, 1996 |title=Tiles are us: Children's art to decorate Link station |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The shelters above the bus bays have eight stainless steel funnels sculpted by Terry Valdez that use ethnic imagery and symbolism to represent the Wenatchee Valley. The station also has a {{convert|9|ft|adj=mid}}, four-sided street clock that is located at the corner of Kittitas Street and Wenatchee Avenue.{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=May 30, 1997 |title=Center of attention: Link's transfer station will be mostly complete by mid-June |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}

File:Wenatchee Station, 1986.jpg

The modern settlement of Wenatchee began in 1890 with real estate developers planning a town along the proposed route of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, which was never completed. The Great Northern Railway arrived in the area on October 17, 1892, and completed its railroad over Stevens Pass to Seattle the following year.{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |date=July 10, 2008 |title=Wenatchee — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8634 |work=HistoryLink |access-date=January 5, 2020}}{{cite news |date=August 30, 1992 |title=Full steam ahead! Wenatchee boomed as the steamboats followed the railroad |page=A16 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The town's Great Northern depot was originally located at Columbia Street and First Street, near the center of the original plat, but was deemed too small to handle both passenger and freight uses. The railroad announced plans in May 1906 to build a new depot to the south at Kittitas Street exclusively for passenger services.{{cite news |date=May 25, 1906 |title=G. N. to Move the Passenger Depot |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41717900/g_n_to_move_the_passenger_depot/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

In April 1909, Great Northern filed plans to build a $50,000 depot at Columbia Street and Orondo Avenue, located between Kittitas and First streets, with additional tracks in a city-owned alley.{{cite news |date=April 10, 1909 |title=Railway Wishes to Build New Depot on Orondo Ave |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718365/railway_wishes_to_build_new_depot_on/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}} The plan was opposed by property owners on Orondo Avenue who would be removed to make way for the depot and new tracks.{{cite news |date=April 28, 1909 |title=Council Deals With Important Problems |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718167/council_deals_with_important_problems/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}} Great Northern announced the following month that they would use the Kittitas Street site for the depot, for which the Wenatchee city council granted a franchise.{{cite news |date=May 19, 1909 |title=G. N. Depot to Be Built at the Foot of Kittitas |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718197/g_n_depot_to_be_built_at_the_foot_of/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}} Construction of the new depot began in June with excavation for a basement heating plant, and moved to above-ground construction by August.{{cite news |date=June 10, 1909 |title=Started Work on New Depot |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718216/started_work_on_new_depot/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}} A section of track was raised {{convert|2|ft|m|spell=in}} by Great Northern to bring trains to platform level for the new depot, which would use granite and brick masonry.{{cite news |date=August 10, 1909 |title=Progress on Depot Building |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718241/progress_on_depot_building/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

The new depot was substantially completed in October 1909, along with an underpass for Kittitas Street, a new roundhouse, and freight facilities at the old depot.{{cite news |date=October 29, 1909 |title=New Depot Nears Completion |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718346/new_depot_nears_completion/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}} The Great Northern depot cost $100,000 to construct and was opened on February 11, 1910, on the same day as Wenatchee's new commercial club and high school. All three dedications were attended by officials from the city, Great Northern, as well as Governor Marion E. Hay. The station building measured {{convert|156|ft|m}} long and {{convert|33|ft|m}} wide with a {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=mid}} covered platform. The interior had two waiting rooms with oak furniture, electric lighting, and a dining area.{{cite news |date=February 11, 1910 |title=Quadruple Dedication: Commercial Club–Depot–Daily World–High School: Fruition of Jim Hill's Promises

|newspaper=The Wenatchee Daily World

|page=1

|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41718519/fruition_of_jim_hills_promises_new/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

File:Station building at Columbia Station - Wenatchee, WA.jpg

Amtrak took over passenger rail operations from Burlington Northern (which Great Northern was merged into) on May 1, 1971. The Empire Builder was moved to the former Northern Pacific Railway route between Seattle and Spokane via Stampede Pass, leaving Wenatchee without passenger rail service.{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=March 22, 1971 |title=Seattle train service to be cut |page=A1 |work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=March 20, 1971 |title=Railpax trains to bypass Wenatchee |page=A9 |work=The Seattle Times}} On June 13, 1973, Amtrak restored passenger rail service to Wenatchee by moving the tri-weekly North Coast Hiawatha to the Stevens Pass route.{{cite news |last=Wyne |first=Mike |date=June 14, 1973 |title=Wenatchee train: The rails click again |page=F4 |work=The Seattle Times}} During the 1974 World's Fair, hosted in Spokane, Amtrak ran a daytime train along the North Coast Hiawatha route that stopped in Wenatchee and Ephrata.{{cite news |date=March 17, 1974 |title=Amtrak to add train to Spokane for Expo |page=H8 |work=The Seattle Times}} The North Coast Hiawatha was discontinued by Amtrak in October 1979 as part of national cuts to low-performing corridors, blamed in part by poor scheduling and reliability issues.{{cite news |last=Gilmore |first=Susan |date=September 30, 1979 |title=Few would murn last Amtrak train through Wenatchee |page=A22 |work=The Seattle Times}}

The Great Northern depot was demolished by Burlington Northern in August 1981, citing the costs of maintaining the historic building.{{cite news |date=October 4, 2001 |title=Old news |page=C4 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Amtrak restored rail service to Wenatchee a second time on October 25, 1981, by rerouting the Empire Builder over Stevens Pass and installed a plastic shelter at Kittitas Street to serve as a temporary station.{{cite news |date=October 26, 1981 |title=Seattle-Spokane Amtrak route returns |page=C2 |work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite news |date=February 21, 1993 |title=Trains mean business: It's not a loco motive |page=7 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The city government began lobbying Amtrak and Burlington Northern for the construction of a permanent passenger rail station adjacent to the Wenatchee Convention Center on First Street.

The newly created Link Transit began planning of a downtown intermodal transit center in 1992 with a federal grant, favoring the convention center site and the adjacent Casscadian Building.{{cite news |date=April 9, 1992 |title=Link will study its options for transfer center |page=14 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=July 3, 1992 |title=Link gets $2 million for project |page=2 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The plan for an intermodal transit center received support from Amtrak, Burlington Northern, private bus operators, and local businesses owners as a replacement for the existing Amtrak facility and temporary downtown transfer center for Link Transit.{{cite news |date=September 2, 1992 |title=Transit center plans move ahead |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=June 2, 1992 |title=Merchants support downtown bus center |page=9 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Link Transit proposed a $10.2 million facility for buses and trains that would also include a pedestrian bridge from the convention center to Wenatchee Riverfront Park and a small park and ride lot.{{cite news |date=May 27, 1992 |title=Link pushes for transit center grant |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}

The use of the Casscadian Building on Mission Street for the transit center came into question in April 1994 after a state historic preservationist determined that the building was eligible to be listed as a historic landmark, as it was a surviving example of early parking garage design.{{cite news |date=April 20, 1994 |title=Expert: Historic parking garage should be saved |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}} After outcry over the project's budget and a plan to condemn an adjacent parking lot,{{cite news |date=April 15, 1994 |title=Theater or transit center? Parking lot owner surprises Link with theater plan |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Link Transit began considering a new site for the facility that would be eligible for state and federal funding.{{cite news |date=May 18, 1994 |title=City may give up funds for rail terminal site |page=3 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Burlington Northern offered the city government an annual lease of $1 for the site of the old depot at Kittitas Street if it were to be used for a transit center.{{cite news |date=June 3, 1994 |title=Low-cost option for transit center |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Link Transit adopted the Kittitas Street site as the preferred location of its Wenatchee transit center, along with a block to the west that would be largely demolished.{{cite news |date=August 17, 1994 |title=New site eyed for transportation hub: Link now wants multimodal center near foot of Kittitas Street |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}

Several options for the Kittitas Street site were considered by Link Transit, including a separate waiting area for Amtrak passengers and the orientation of the bus bays.{{cite news |date=June 13, 1995 |title=Link asks public to help come up with plan |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=July 26, 1995 |title=Three options for transit center design |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The project was approved by Link Transit in September 1995, with a cost of $8.2 million that would be partially covered by a federal grant.{{cite news |date=September 20, 1995 |title=Link approves $8.2 million transfer center |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=June 18, 1995 |title=Link wins federal grant: Funds will be used to build a downtown transit center |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}} By the following year, Link Transit had acquired the property needed for the transit center for $1.5 million, including an existing three-story building that would be renovated for use by passengers, and named the project "Columbia Station".{{cite news |date=May 2, 1996 |title=Agency controls transfer center land |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Link Transit and Wenatchee broke ground on the new Columbia Station on August 23, 1996, after the Franklin House was demolished.{{cite news |date=August 25, 1996 |title=Link breaks ground |page=14 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Construction costs for the project were lower than expected, allowing for Link Transit to re-add several decorative features that had been deferred in the planning process, including the street clock.

Columbia Station was dedicated and opened to service on July 13, 1997, with 500 people in attendance and speeches from local officials. Northwestern Trailways was the first intercity operator to use the facility, having moved from their old depot at First Street and Chelan Street.{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=July 14, 1997 |title=Link: Just the beginning—Mayor hails Link transfer center as a 'model of cooperation' |page=1 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |date=August 21, 1998 |title=Vacant bus terminal going on the market |page=15 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The rebuilding of the Amtrak platform was scheduled to be completed in tandem with the bus station, but was delayed while waiting for finalization of the lease agreement with BNSF Railway.{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=September 11, 1997 |title=Delay threatens Link's rail plan |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Construction began in October 1997 on the new platform, three waiting shelters, and a parking lot.{{cite news |last=Maher |first=Stephen |date=December 18, 1997 |title=Construction of train facility to be completed by spring |page=7 |work=The Wenatchee World}} The new platform was dedicated on June 26, 1998, shortly after it was opened for use by passengers.{{cite news |date=June 21, 1998 |title=Amtrak platform celebration set |page=14 |work=The Wenatchee World}}{{cite news |last=Perez |first=Anthony |date=June 28, 1998 |title=Columbia Station open to rails |page=6 |work=The Wenatchee World}} Columbia Station underwent a minor renovation in 2018 that added a new comfort station for drivers and remodeled Link Transit's administrative offices on the third floor.{{cite news |last=McDaniels |first=Nevonne |date=April 6, 2018 |title=Columbia Station construction moves Link bus loading locations |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/columbia-station-construction-moves-link-bus-loading-locations/article_267d3125-18c2-5afa-bf99-7c9a2a5d53d1.html |work=The Wenatchee World |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

File:Bus island at Columbia Station - Wenatchee, WA.jpg

Columbia Station is the main hub for Link Transit, a regional bus system that serves Wenatchee and other communities in Chelan and Douglas counties. The transit system operates intercity routes and local service from the station, including frequent shuttles that use electric buses and seasonal winter service to Mission Ridge Ski Area. Columbia Station is also served by two daily Amtrak trains on the Empire Builder, a transcontinental route connecting to Seattle, Spokane, and Chicago. The next stops on the Empire Builder are Icicle Station in Leavenworth to the west and Ephrata station to the east.{{cite web |date=December 2019 |title=2019 Washington State Rail System Plan |page=19 |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2019/12/31/draft-state-rail-plan-2019.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=January 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104063515/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2019/12/31/draft-state-rail-plan-2019.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |date=April 29, 2018 |title=Empire Builder Schedule |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Empire-Builder-Schedule-042918.pdf |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

In addition to Link Transit, the station is also served by several intercity bus routes from other operators that use the lower bus bays on Columbia Street or other parts of the facility. The Travel Washington Apple Line provides daily service from Wenatchee to Omak and Ellensburg.{{cite web |title=Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/transit/intercity |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415015516/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/transit/intercity |url-status=dead }} The Grant Transit Authority runs buses on weekdays from Wenatchee to Quincy, Ephrata station, and Moses Lake.{{cite web |date=July 2019 |title=Route 50 Wenatchee Express |url=http://granttransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/28-Route-50-Wenatchee.pdf |publisher=Grant Transit Authority |access-date=January 5, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Private coach operator Northwestern Trailways has an office at the station and runs daily buses from Wenatchee to Omak, Ellensburg, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane.{{cite web |title=Service Map |url=http://northwesterntrailways.com/ServiceMap |publisher=Northwestern Trailways |access-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730200232/http://northwesterntrailways.com/ServiceMap |url-status=dead }} The Wenatchee Valley Shuttle provides service to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport from the park and ride lot at Columbia Station's train platform.{{cite news |last=Woods |first=Wilfred |date=December 12, 2012 |title=New shuttle to SeaTac is pulling its own weight |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/wilf-woods-new-shuttle-to-seatac-is-pulling-its-own/article_3274620b-87e3-5e87-a895-2896c4491f92.html |work=The Wenatchee World |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

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{{Amtrak web|WEN|Wenatchee, WA}}

• [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/wenatchee.htm Wenatchee Amtrak Station – USA RailGuide (TrainWeb)]

{{Amtrak Washington stations}}

Category:1997 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Amtrak stations in Washington (state)

Category:Buildings and structures in Wenatchee, Washington

Category:Bus stations in Washington (state)

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1997

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Chelan County, Washington

Category:Transit centers in the United States