Chico station

Chico, CA
Location 450 Orange Street
Chico, California 95928
Coordinates 39°43′24″N 121°50′46″W / 39.7233°N 121.8461°W / 39.7233; -121.8461
Owned by City of Chico
Line(s)
  Coast Starlight
Platforms 1 side platform
Tracks 1
Construction
Parking Yes
Bicycle facilities Yes
Disabled access Yes
Other information
Station code CIC
History
Opened 1892
Rebuilt 1988
Traffic
Passengers (2017) 12,154[1] Decrease 7.53% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
toward Los Angeles
Coast Starlight
toward Seattle
Southern Pacific Depot
Location Chico, California, USA
Coordinates 39°42′24.0″N 121°50′8.0″W / 39.706667°N 121.835556°W / 39.706667; -121.835556Coordinates: 39°42′24.0″N 121°50′8.0″W / 39.706667°N 121.835556°W / 39.706667; -121.835556
Architectural style Carpenter Gothic
NRHP reference # 87000001
Added to NRHP January 29, 1987

Chico is a passenger station in the South Campus Neighborhood of Chico, California served by Amtrak. It is located at West Fifth and Orange streets and is used by Amtrak's Coast Starlight service. The station was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1892.

The terminal is partially wheelchair accessible, has an enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public pay phones, free short-term and long-term parking. Trains run between Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles, California with a northbound and a southbound train departing from the station daily. The Greyhound bus station is also located at Fifth and Orange Streets.

Of the 74 California stations served by Amtrak, Chico was the 59th-busiest in FY2012, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 30 passengers daily.[2] Total boardings for Amtrak's fiscal year 2017 topped out at 12,154.[3]

The city and the Chamber of Commerce saved the current structure from demolition through an agreement with the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1987.[4] That same year, the depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Southern Pacific Depot.[5] The building is also home to the Chico Art Center.

While the Butte County Association of Governments has looked in to establishment of weekday bus service from Chico to Sacramento, their plan called for the bus to depart not from the station but rather a park and ride facility on Fir Street.[6][7] A different North State Intercity Bus route received TIRCP funding in 2018 and will provide weekday feeder service to Sacramento from the Chico station.[8][9]

History

  • In the film Magic Town, James Stewart stepped off the train into Chico at the station. This is the story of a pollster who discovers the perfect small town that reflects all of America's trends. Eventually, the town is spoiled by all of the media attention.[10]
  • During his 1952 Vice Presidential campaign, Richard Nixon was talking on the pay phone at the station when he got the news from the campaign headquarters that he would have to respond to the Checkers issue with the 'Checkers speech'.[5]
  • In 1996, the Olympic Torch arrived in Chico at the Amtrak station. The torch was carried through the closed streets with thousands of Chicoans celebrating along the path.

Platforms and tracks

Track 1 ■ Coast Starlight toward Seattle (Redding)
■ Coast Starlight toward Los Angeles (Sacramento)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017, State of California" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2012, State of California" (PDF). Amtrak]. November 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  3. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017, State of California" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Great American Stations Accessed January 30, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Giovanna R. Jackson; Michele Shover (August 1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Southern Pacific Depot" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved December 12, 2015. Accompanying 12 photos.
  6. ↑ https://www.sacog.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/bcag_chico_to_sacramento_intercity_commuter_bus_service_talking_points.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.chicoer.com/2018/06/30/new-chico-bus-service-far-off-but-i-5-could-be-in-2019/
  8. ↑ https://www.srta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4099/North-State-Intercity-Bus-System-Business-Plan-June-2018?bidId=
  9. ↑ http://www.dot.ca.gov/drmt/docs/sptircp/2018_awardlist.pdf
  10. ↑ Chico Chamber of Commerce - Chico Movie History Archived September 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
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