Officials from all levels of government joined with Amtrak leaders on Monday, October 23, 2023, to celebrate completion of a renovation project at the Wilmington Train Station.
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured Governor John Carney, Senator Tom Carper, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Mayor Mike Purzycki, and Mitch Landrieu, Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator for the White House.
Landrieu praised the President for whom the station is named after, and the bipartisan infrastructure law.
"He never ever forgot where he came from and what regular folks need to get to and from where they're going so their lives can be easier, better, safer, equity infused, and to make sure that even the least among us, those of us that have been left out for a long time because we just forgot to design it so they can get there, could actually come along," said Landrieu.
"This is the first time in the last fifty years there's been real money, cash, that came down to states and cities to actually start doing things," said Landrieu, who added that President has made sure Delaware is getting it's fair share of the funding.
"There's a billion dollars going to Delaware right now that's gotten here already for forty specific projects including 750-million dollars for transportation in the roads, and bridges, and airports," said Landrieu.
Renovations at the train station totaled $11-million including new escalators, a new internal staircase, and accessibility projects. Previously there was only an up escalator alongside a set of stairs.
"There's nobody who loves this project more than your home-boy, and your President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden," said Landrieu.
