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As part of an effort to encourage communities to spruce up stations, Amtrak on July 24 will host a “civic conversation” in Denver as part of its Great American Stations Initiative. Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Kummant recently invited mayors, civic leaders, and state officials along the 2,438-mile Chicago-to-Emeryville, Calif., California Zephyr route to attend.

Kummant and other Amtrak officials will host the day-long, invitation-only workshop, which will highlight how cities such as Denver, Meridian, Miss., and Kansas City, Mo., spearheaded station rehabilitation projects that sparked additional redevelopment in their respective communities. The workshop also will include information on station standards and the types of state and federal grants available for station improvement projects, as well as a how-to session on getting started on a station renewal project.

In addition, Amtrak officials will provide results of a recently completed review of each of the 35 stations along the California Zephyr route, including specific suggestions for upgrades that could be made at each facility.

Amtrak is planning similar meetings for other routes. The railroad recently launched a new Web site, www.greatamericanstations.com, which provides information on improving stations and descriptions of several Amtrak stations, and highlights specific station improvement projects.