Amtrak - Providence Station
100 Gaspee Street
Providence, RI 02903
For accessibility information
Phone: 800-872-7245
http://www.amtrak.com/
Yesterday, my mom, friends and I traveled to the Amtrak Providence Train Station to pick up our train tickets for my trip to Washington DC. Congressman Barney Frank got me two tickets to the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America! Thank you Congressman Frank! I am very excited that my friends and I are traveling to Washington DC to see this historic event :)
I believe that Barack Obama will help to break barriers that exist even today for the disabled and keep his promise that is posted on his website : Barack Obama’s Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities : “We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination …. policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities.” -Barack Obama
There is plenty of handicap parking spaces right in front of the wheelchair access to the sidewalk in front of this Amtrak station; long term handicap parking is located in the parking garage. I had no problem entering independently in my Power Chair for the entry doors are my favorite kind of automatic doors. They slide open as soon as you approach so a person in a wheelchair can enter this train station independently with no barriers at all.
Once inside you’ll find this Amtrak station is spacious and easy to wheel around. I went to the wheelchair accessible ticket booth and gave my name to the customer service representative whose name is Denise. Denise is very kind, courteous and helpful. She was very happy to hear that I am traveling to the historical inauguration. I got my tickets and was so happy that I was one step closer to making my journey to Washington DC for President-elect Obama’s Historical Inauguration. Wow!! I feel so honored!
I then went to the baggage counter and asked Fred, the clerk if it is still ok for me to bring my roll-in shower chair on the train like I did when I traveled on the Acela Express Train (Amtrack) to Washington DC in June of 2007. Fred asked me about the size of my chair and said it would be fine. I just wanted to make sure that the policy didn’t change for I didn’t want any unexpected surprises on the day of my trip. Fred told me that John would be there to help me on the day of my trip.
While looking around I also noticed that even the phones that are available for customers to call for rental cars or hotels are of a perfect height for my wheelchair. I picked up a phone and a nice woman immediately answered and asked how she could help me.
The restrooms are fully wheelchair accessible and easy to get into. The handicap stall is large enough for any size wheelchair and the ADA required safety bars are of a perfect height. I found the accessible sinks to be a perfect height and the pipes under the sink are covered. It is easy to reach the automatic soap and towel dispenser.
I give the Amtrak Train Station in Providence FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. I give Denise and Fred Five Stars for being courteuos, kind and helpful!
