GRAND RAPIDS — Members of the Grand Valley Metro Council recently approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation that will lead to a makeover of the Amtrak station at 431 Wealthy St. SW.

The station facelift will cost $50,000 and a grant from MDOT will cover all the work.

“This is a no-strings-attached grant,” said Don Stypula, Metro Council executive director.

The work includes installing four security cameras, two outside and two inside, with all four linked to the city’s traffic safety department. The parking lot will be upgraded; the outdoor lighting will be checked and possibly replaced; the building’s exterior will be cleaned; new seats will be installed along the track; and the restrooms will be painted. The landscaping surrounding the building will also be upgraded.

The Metro Council is a member of the WESTRAIN Collaborative, an organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of passenger rail service in West Michigan. The Pere Marquette runs daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago.