Jul 19, 2024 By Michele Gillis 4 min read

Riders of the Mid Mon Valley Transit who visit or work in the Speers Industrial Park may soon be very happy.

Mid Mon Valley Transit is currently seeking funding for a project, a Multi-modal Transit Hub, located in the Speers Industrial Park.

“This project would fund the construction of a paved area which will consist of bus turn- around lanes, passenger shelter area, and amenities,” said Ashley Seman, executive director of the MMVTA. “Currently, MMVTA cannot travel through the Industrial Park due to the lack of an area to turn around to exit the park.”

Presently, the MMVTA operates a bus stop at the park’s entrance only.

Seman said the MMVTA’s intent is to make transportation possible for passengers to connect with businesses in the Industrial Park for employment and doctor’s visits, including a dialysis clinic and methadone clinic.

A Multimodal Transit Hub is an area where public transit can have a designated drop- off and pick-up location which can be utilized by other public transit agencies for transfers from one to another and also general public use.

“Improving access to the Industrial Park will improve services to the public, catering to employment needs by accessing various businesses, doctor’s appointments, and medical clinics, that may be unobtainable by those with a disability; low-income residents; and those without transportation, thereby enhancing overall quality of life,” said Seman. “This will also provide a safer option by reducing the necessity to walk to destinations within the Industrial Park.”

Financially, the hub is a good idea because increased ridership would bring additional revenue into the area and would provide additional transit options to residents.

Aesthetically, it will be paved, curbed, landscaped and have dusk to dawn lights installed so that the entire area will be illuminated for safety. There will be an ADA-accessible transit bus shelter will be constructed in conjunction with a boarding/ disembarking area; appropriate signage shall be displayed, drainage areas will be installed per the Borough guidelines and security cameras will be installed.

When this project happens, it will also free up Washington County’s Shared-Ride provider, Freedom Transit which offers rides to patrons of the Speers Industrial Park who cannot access the interior of the park due to the fixed route bus system.

Enabling travel into the Industrial Park through MMVTA’s multi-modal transit hub will free up Shared-Ride trips, particularly for individuals with disabilities or specific needs such as dialysis patients. This transition of some Shared-Ride customers onto MMVTA’s fixed route service aids Freedom Transit in cost savings, which can be redirected towards serving those in genuine need.

Searching for funding for such a project takes time and ingenuity. The MMVTA is working hard to make this happen. The total amount needed for the project is $540,000. They are asking for $432,000 in Federal funding and $108,000 Local (possible LSA).

Seman said the MMVTA has applied for a Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Grant to fund construction costs and is planning to present to the LSA in hopes of securing the matching funds for this project.

At the moment, the project is tentative and waiting on an environmental review of the proposed area and agreement signed by both parties, Mon Valley Alliance and MMVTA.

An environmental assessment is currently underway and is being performed by Moody & Associates, Inc. of Washington, PA.

“For a Federal grant to be approved for this project, an environmental assessment must be performed on the land in question to ensure there will be no environmental impacts once construction begins,” said Seman. “If the land is deemed ‘clean’, a Categorical Exclusion will be issued. Then, all information has to be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration for final review and concurrence before a grant can be awarded and construction can begin.”

Seman said the project is aimed at addressing existing gaps in transit infrastructure and was determined by public requests to travel in this area.

“This 80-acre industrial park’s proximity to Interstate 70 ensures convenient accessibility,” said Seman. “Easy access to I-70 makes access from different bus routes possible.”

What happens if the funding falls through?

Seman said if discretionary funds are not secured, the MMVTA receives dedicated FTA Section 5307 funds each year that could be used if necessary.

Securing funds from the Speers Borough is not an option because MMVTA participating communities contribute operating local matches each year to the MMVTA.

“We believe that additional funding requests to these small communities would cause them an undue financial burden,” said Seman.

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