Washington transit hub won’t open until spring
Washington’s intermodal transit center, already months behind schedule, now won’t open until spring at the earliest, although the transit authority’s director thinks it will be worth the wait.
Washington City Transit General Manager Joe Thomas admitted to being disappointed by the lengthy delay, but said the hub will help streamline transit services around the area and promote public transportation.
“I think it will be positive for all of us,” Thomas said. “It will be a more visible location for people to learn about and use public transit. It’s a more identifiable location to catch the bus and other needs.”
The $3.7 million transit hub on East Chestnut Street was supposed to open in June, but weather delays and design changes pushed that target date back to October. However, a delay in West Penn Power connecting electricity to the building pushed back other work needed to be completed inside, meaning it won’t be ready for several more months, Thomas said.
The construction project will use all of its $300,000 contingency budget included in that $3.7 million figure. In addition, Thomas expects to spend another $400,000 to finish the second floor of the building – which offers a panoramic view of the city – where Washington Rides will be headquartered. City Transit might have to channel money originally earmarked to purchase a new bus to pay to finish the second floor.
City Transit and the Washington Parking Authority will utilize the first floor of the building, which is nearly completed. Thomas said they could move into that section of the building soon, but he decided it would make more sense to wait until the entire building is finished.
“It’s a nice facility,” Thomas said. “It did come in a little higher than expected, but I don’t think it’s too over the top from what is typical with construction.”
Walking around the hub, Thomas pointed to the ticket counters and waiting area riders can use during poor weather. The City Parking Authority also will have a pay window in the lobby for people paying parking tickets. There will be office space for the various agencies and even a break room and bathroom for bus drivers stopping between routes.
A delay by West Penn Power connecting electricity to the transit hub caused the most recent setback. West Penn spokesman Todd Meyers said the “robust” housing and commercial development boom occurring in Washington County created a backlog for the connection.
“There are a lot of projects competing to get hooked up,” Meyers said.
He said they were ready for the hookup in mid-November, but that timeline was pushed back a few weeks after the utility company did not receive final approval from the transit authority. Power was connected Friday, meaning construction crews can finish work on the first floor.
Planning for the intermodal transit hub began in 2009, and construction at the site of the city’s former East Chestnut Street parking garage started last August. Thomas hopes it will help facilitate shared services between City Transit and Washington Rides that might foster a closer working relationship, or even a merger one day.
Thomas has been the general manager of the transit authority since September 2013. He also has split time over the past six months as part-time director of the city’s parking authority and parking department, and is currently negotiating with Washington officials on whether he should continue in that role. City officials voted Thursday night to pay him $6,500 for his contracted work as parking director since June, although he is awaiting a new contract before resuming that job.