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Train station no engine of progress

Niagara Falls is the epitome of the fall and abyss of upstate New York from the 1970s to the present. Though known worldwide as a major tourist attraction, the Canadian version grabs the major spotlight for being more entertaining, cleaner and upscale compared to our stateside model.

Only in upstate could a world jewel become a rotten tomato.

This week, in an effort to brighten its image, the Cataract City unveiled its new train station. To put it mildly, it went all out.

It’s a $43 million project paid for by federal and state funds as well as some from the city. It replaces what was considered an “abandoned rail warehouse” on Willard Avenue, according to the Niagara Gazette.

Sound familiar? Look about 22 miles south. Buffalo is grappling with its city train station that almost appears to be in a dungeon hidden below Interstate 190 on Exchange Street. Its location has been in the news recently since its roof collapsed.

It is true what they say about first impressions. Both the old train station in Niagara Falls — and the Buffalo city location — are dark welcomes to two cities where the greatest prosperity was in the past.

For now, however, Niagara Falls is hoping the over-priced train station leads to a new, positive momentum in what is — overall — a fairly downtrodden city. “I’m overjoyed,” Mayor Paul Dyster told the Niagara Gazette after its opening. “After all the years of work to get this project going, finally, the station is in operation and now we will have decades of enjoyment.”

There is a great potential for travelers to Niagara Falls and its train station, thanks to its world-famous built-in attraction. Will the station lead to an overall change in the downtown? Probably not. That needs to come from better government — in that city, Niagara County and the state.

Dunkirk, in recent years, has discussed having a train station stop for Amtrak as well. Though not as rampant a topic as four years ago, it continues to get discussed as an item that could help spur tourism.

Our tourism boost cannot come from a train station or airport. It needs to come from better planning on the waterfront that appears to be moving forward.

Some of that, with a new marina operator, could be a reality with better access to beaches. Others in the city are still riding a wave of optimism when it comes to Athenex, which will be located right outside the city limits on the east side.

Athenex brings the potential of 900 jobs, which might be a reason to consider investing — or looking to a train station — if the site truly becomes an economic engine.

For the world tourist, however, Niagara Falls is something our region is not: a destination. Dunkirk does have its lakefront, a lighthouse, but still plenty of work to do in becoming what the Falls can offer in its natural wonder.

Niagara Falls invested $43 million into a train station. Even though it has been built and may help increase the number of visitors, most of the city and its downtown remain mired in dilapidation.

A train station — no matter how costly — won’t fix that.

John D’Agostino is the OBSERVER publisher. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.

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