CARBONDALE, Ill. — After years of planning, the Carbondale community had the opportunity to experience the new Southern Illinois Multimodal Station. Tuesday was the grand opening of Phase 1 of the major project to replace the original Amtrak building that sits next door.

Among those waiting for their train and enjoying the new building was Mariah Vasquez. She has traveled from Carbondale to Chicago before, but Tuesday was her first time catching the train from the new building.

New Southern Illinois Multimodal Station located at 401 South Illinois Avenue.

"I think it's really nice... I definitely like this space, way bigger than the last one, for sure," she said.

Much like Vasquez, Syhemia Grey also compared the new SIMMS building to the old Amtrak station. She too admired the building's look and size, but also the range of opportunities.

Old Amtrak Station set to be demolished in Phase two of the SIMMS project.

"It kind of opens up the options for diversity. So now you have to figure out, how can you advertise towards the different people that are traveling? You know, this actually connects you to Chicago, and it always connects you all the way down to New Orleans as well. So this is like something really big," she said.

The SIMMS will host multiple means of transportation and outreach opportunities. Facilitated by Man-Tra-Con Corporation, those opportunities include help for job seekers, recruitment services and youth programs at no cost. These amenities are just some of the different outreach activities happening at the SIMMS.

City Public Relations Officer Eva Fisher said having different opportunities makes the station not just for the eager passengers, but for the community as a whole.

"We really hope that this space provides a breath of fresh air and perhaps some inspiration for passengers as they come on and off the train, they get great views of the city as soon as they step out. And they're going to have a lot of resources here in the near future to guide them all over Southern Illinois," said Fisher.

Though the doors of the building are open, there is still one more stop for the SIMMS. Fisher explained that Phase 2 of the project will include more amenities for the community, including office space for Jax Mass Transit and Carbondale Tourism, as well as a special place for Southern Illinois University.

Phase 2 is also when the original Amtrak station will be demolished.