Amtrak depot renovation is overdue and welcome

We’re happy to see the restoration of Minot’s Amtrak depot well on its way to completion.


Under the plans, the depot will get a new roof and brick exterior this year, with more work to come. The amount of interior remodeling hasn’t been determined  yet, and will depend on how much money is available. The outside work will cost roughly $373,000, most of which was paid for by a $300,000 federal grand through the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the City of Minot.


The restoration committee has been working for years to secure funding to remodel the depot. Once the outside work is completed, the committee will still have about $13,000 remaining. It will use that money for any unexpected expenses and as seed money to help raise more funds for remodeling the depot’s interior and work on the grounds.


Studies show some 100,000 people pass through Minot on Amtrak each year, and the depot is likely the only part of Minot they see. That’s why restoring the depot is an important project. The depot has been well-maintained through the years, and most of the money to pay for the project came from a federal grant. Other money was raised through private donations.


We look forward to the completion of the Amtrak depot restoration project. Besides the building’s considerable historical significance, restoring the depot inside and out will certainly help project a better image of Minot to the 100,000 or so passengers who stop here every year, even if it is only for roughly 20 minutes at a time. The project is overdue and should have been done years ago.