Carbon County officials are working to preserve the Old Mauch Chunk Train Station for future generations.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board voted to apply for a $96,972 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Local Share Account grant to use on train station renovations. The LSA money comes from gaming funds collected at the casino in Monroe County and is available for projects in Monroe, Carbon, Lackawanna, Northampton, Pike and Wayne counties.Commissioner's Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the project includes upgrading the current fire alarm system, which is "in dire need of repairs" and parts can no longer be found, as well as updating and removing old wiring from the basement area of the building."Some of the wires in the basement seem to go to nowhere," Nothstein said, adding that it is a fire hazard in the historic building.The total cost of the project is estimated to be $113,657. Of that total, the county will kick in $16,685 from its parking fund to cover engineering fees related to the project.The county will now wait until June to see if it is successful in receiving the grant. If they are, the anticipated timeline will move quickly, with bids in August and work starting next November.The expected completion date is January 2016.This is the fourth major renovation project the county has worked on in the train station in recent years.In 2013, the county renovated the visitor center restrooms at a cost of $99,250; as well as spent $17,760 to complete masonry restoration on the exterior of the building.Earlier this year, the visitors center was closed so it could receive a face-lift.The $12,300 project involved repairing and refinishing floors, reconfiguring the current help desk layout, painting, installing video kiosks and updating brochure racks.Money for the projects came from the parking fund, which is generated from parking fees paid by visitors when they park in the county-owned parking lot.