New parking lot opens at Staples Mill Amtrak station

Catching a train from Henrico's Staples Mill Amtrak station should be a bit easier now, thanks to the completion of the first phase of a parking improvement project.

The station recently opened a new section of parking spots – 115 in total – designed to help alleviate crowded parking conditions. As part of the project, a second entrance to the station also opened off Bremner Boulevard.

“The completion of this phase is indicative of the Commonwealth’s commitment to giving our citizens travel options, and that includes our Staples Mill passengers as we continue construction on our parking lot expansion project. These additional parking spaces will enhance the Amtrak customer experience while we continue to work towards completion,” said Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation  Director Jennifer Mitchell.

With the additional spots, the station now has 403 parking spots overall. Phase II of the project – which will add bike racks, taxi/ride-share parking and ADA parking spaces, in addition to more standard parking spaces – is underway. The third phase will connect the new properties to the existing parking lot and resurfacing the entire existing lot, during which the Staples Mill Road entrance will be closed and customers will use the new Bremner Blvd entrance.

By completion, the parking lot will have 587 parking spaces as well as a dedicated bus loading zone, bike racks, taxi/ride-share parking, improved pedestrian accommodations, additional ADA parking and two entrances.

The project, funded by DRPT, with construction oversight from VDOT, is expected to be completed in summer 2018.