Alaska Railroad Corporation Intermodal Passenger Terminal Improvements

Projects

Client

Alaska Railroad Corporation

Timeline

Completed in 2005

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska

A red train station with a clock tower stands under a clear blue sky, surrounded by snow-covered ground, bare trees, and shrubs. The sign reads Fairbanks. The scene appears calm and wintry.
A modern building with large glass windows and wooden roof beams reads Fairbanks on the front. Snow covers the ground and roof, with tall pine trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
A snow-covered train station with wooden platforms and a clock tower, set in a winter landscape under a clear blue sky. Snow blankets the ground, trees, and roofs, with train tracks visible in the foreground.
A snowy entrance to a building with a clock tower, large glass doors, and Fairbanks displayed above the entrance. Snow covers the ground and bushes, and the sky is clear and blue.

Modernizing Passenger Rail Access in Fairbanks

Modern Rail Hub Elevates Passenger Travel in Interior Alaska

Careful coordination is required to modernize passenger rail service in the heart of an industrial yard. The Alaska Railroad Corporation’s (AARC’s) Intermodal Passenger Terminal project set out to do exactly that: upgrade essential passenger infrastructure while keeping daily freight operations moving. The resulting 15,000-square-foot complex brought together a passenger terminal, dedicated rail access, a balloon track for efficient turnarounds, roadway connections from the Johansen Expressway, and integrated bus and car parking. Each component was designed to streamline passenger movement and reduce operational conflicts with freight activity.

Engineering a Terminal That Fits the Way Fairbanks Travels

RESPEC supported the project from early planning through environmental documentation, agency coordination, design, and construction administration. Rail improvements were designed for long-term functionality and include a mainline passenger track, two passenger sidings, an inspection track and building, modifications to the existing trailer-on-flatcar track, and a planned passenger bypass of the freight classification yard. The balloon track reduces switching, delays, and operational conflicts.

RESPEC also prepared all bid documents and provided full site, structural, mechanical, and electrical design for the terminal. The building features exposed structural systems, specialized foundations to address soil liquefaction, and a 300-foot covered waiting area to protect passengers in Alaska’s extreme climate. Supporting infrastructure includes utilities, fire protection, water main extension, drainage, parking, roadway improvements, and coordination of power and communication line relocations.

A Rail Hub Ready for Growth

The project strengthens passenger service by improving safety, reliability, and the overall traveler experience. By separating passenger and freight operations and creating a flexible, intermodal hub, RESPEC helped AARC position Fairbanks for growth and improved regional connectivity.