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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	March, 2009	Return to newsletter index

Saco Transportation Center officially opened

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On Friday, February 27, the Saco Transportation Center was officially opened.

Mayor Ron Michaud opened the ceremony, which was marked by beautiful weather, a jazz band, refreshments, local and state officials and a capacity crowd of onlookers who came to get their first view of the center.

Mayor Ron Michaud speaks to a capacity crowd at the dedication of the new Saco Transportation Center

"I have never been prouder of the Saco Community," Mayor Michaud said, as he noted the community-wide effort to build the center, which has been nearly 18 years in the making. "Thank you for a job well done."

First suggested by Peter Morelli and Mark Johnston in 1991, the proposal to bring Amtrak Downeaster to Saco was submitted to the state in 1992. After literally years of meetings, Saco (rather than Biddeford) was finally chosen as the site for the station and the work began. In addition to the hard work of Peter and Mark, the project has had the support of many of Saco's residents and town officials, including the present mayor Ron Michaud.

Located in the shadow of the giant windmill and featuring a stunning clock tower, the new Amtrak Station is hard to miss. Boasting 5,000 square feet of usable space, the station, designed by Lassel Architects of Berwick, is a green facility.

Among other green technologies, the station uses a wind power generator, geo-thermal heating and cooling, and radiant heating in the waiting room. Amazingly, the roofing material used is actually a composite made of recycled soda bottles, but looks like expensive slate and will last forever. The building also has a solar orientation, is super-insulated, and has special low-flow water fixtures.

"Saco is on the fore front, the cutting edge of public transportation and green energy," noted U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree who spoke at the opening and referred to the city's residents as "visionary." Her remarks came just as Amtrak's Downeaster pulled into the station.

In the case of this station, green is also beautiful. With walls nearly all of glass, a vaulted ceiling with beautiful beams, a skylight, and rich interior detailing, this an attractive and comfortable place to wait for the Downeaster. The wooden furniture for the station is being made locally by Richardson Allen, a company owned by Saco residents Sam and Rebecca Butler, whose office is right next to Saco Spirit's.

The Biddeford/Saco Chamber of Commerce will be a tenant in the building and will use 2500 square feet for offices. Chamber personnel will manage the building and provide staffing. The plan is for the station to be open and staffed from 5:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and to also be open without staffing evenings seven days a week. QuikTrak machines will be available for purchasing tickets.