Amtrak Says Fairfield Station Will Not Replace Suisun Station, Mostly

City officials from Vacaville and Fairfield are holding a public meeting Wednesday on the new train station project and overpass over Peabody Road.

Amtrak officials have told Patch that the new station will not replace the Suisun City station, but that there will be reduced stops in Suisun City.

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Peabody Road, of course, will need help if a new station is to be built.

"The existing Peabody Road crossing is undersized, outdated and creates a significant impediment to travel along Peabody Road," Fairfield's Public Works Director George Hicks said.

The new overcrossing at the railroad tracks will provide a safe and efficient passage for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, Hicks said.

Peabody Road is an important corridor for local businesses, students and faculty for three neighborhood schools and for commuters, Fairfield's Assistant Public Works Director and City Engineer Steve Hartwig said.

City officials agreed to temporarily close Peabody Road between Cement Hill/Vanden Road and Huntington Drive in mid-2013 while the new overpass is constructed. The overpass is expected to open in mid-2014.

At the meeting Wednesday evening at the Golden West Middle School multi-purpose room, officials from both cities will discuss the public safety plan, detour routes and efforts to minimize the construction's impact on the public.

The project's design and preliminary work are nearing completion and will include many suggestions from the public.

"In addition to evaluating the best approach for the safety of motorists, pedestrians, trains and construction workers, The City collaborated with Travis Air Force Base, Travis Unified School District, businesses, residents and the community-at-large to evaluate the approach and to look for ways to minimize impact to everyone," Hartwig said.

The new Fairfield/Vacaville train station will be located at Peabody and Vanden roads, bringing Amtrak's Capitol Corridor passenger service to northern Fairfield and southern Vacaville.

The meeting is between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Golden West middle school, located at 2651 DeRonde Drive in Fairfield.

-- Bay City News Service (David Ryan contributed to this article)