A last-minute need for temporary toilets, showers and lockers at the Lancaster city Amtrak station is stalling the start of a $12 million renovation there.

The work, which was to begin in late August, is being delayed while the project's manager searches for a way to provide interim facilities for Amtrak employees.

"We have to get this right before we can start," said Terry Kauffman, chairman of the Lancaster County Transportation Authority, which is overseeing the renovations.

Kauffman and other officials voiced hope Thursday that the issues can be resolved within two weeks, allowing the renovations — expected to take 18 months — to get under way at last.

When they do, they will include several features that previously were thought to be beyond the project's budget.

The need for temporary facilities surfaced last month, said Kauffman, after Amtrak had signed off on plans for improving the busy train station.

Amtrak notified the authority that its union contract requires the temporary facilities.

That's because the renovations will prevent the use of the station's employee toilets, showers and lockers.

They serve about 30 Amtrak male and female employees who work at the station or use it as a base of operations.

"It's a significant issue — and to have it at the 25th hour," Kauffman said. "Amtrak signed off on these plans, then they changed the rules."

The authority is investigating several options. It might be able to use Amtrak's training center, a small building on the west side of the station. Or it might rent portable buildings.

Whatever structure is chosen, the biggest challenge is the plumbing for the temporary toilets and showers.

"Can we hook into the existing water and sewer lines, or do we have to run new connections (to the main lines under McGovern Avenue)?" Kauffman asked.

The cost of providing temporary facilities will depend on how the problem is solved, he said.

An Amtrak spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Kauffman and a city official denied a broadcast report claiming the delay in the start of the work was because the city had yet to issue a building permit.

"It's sitting in our office, and it has been since Aug. 28," said Gary Horning, the city's bureau chief for code compliance and inspections.

"The city process hasn't delayed this project at all," he said.

Horning said as soon as Amtrak or a project representative pays the $47,866 permit fee, the permit will be released to them and work can begin.

However, Kauffman said the permit won't be picked up until the facilities issue is resolved and construction can begin.

Otherwise, the 18-month construction timetable would begin prematurely, creating an unfair situation for contractors facing completion deadlines.

"We don't want to start any clock running until we're ready to go," Kauffman said.

"It's imperative, with the complexity of this project, that all the stars are aligned before we pull the trigger."

The project's general contractor, Caldwell, Heckles & Egan, has been told that work could begin in early October.

"We're just patiently waiting to start work there, hopefully before the snow starts flying," said CH&E project manager Patrick Bowman. "Fortunately, we have other work (to do in the meantime)."

Whenever the Amtrak job gets under way, it will include several optional features previously thought to be unaffordable.

The reason is that the low bids for the "base" project — which will add parking, air conditioning, handicapped accessibility and other aspects — came in well below budget.

The low bids opened in April totaled $8.38 million, well under the $12 million project budget.

That will allow the authority to add a few options — facade restoration, a roof overhang at the entrance, utilities for a future restaurant — while staying under its budget.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation project was held in June, although Kauffman said construction work wasn't expected to start until August, to allow for "normal start-up" paperwork to be finalized.

E-mail: tmekeel@lnpnews.com