Waco Transit Maintenance Facility
After three years of amassing funds, the city of Waco is nearly ready to begin construction on its much-touted Waco Transit Maintenance Facility.
*Transportation Department grant moves city toward new transit facility*
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, this week announced the U.S. Department of Transportation was awarding $1.63 million for the project, now scheduled to begin this fall.
“I think we have everything secured,” said John Hendrickson, general manager of Waco Transit. “We have one more allocation of funds that is under review, and that will be probably approved around November.
“Construction will probably be approved shortly thereafter,” he said.
The 2,700-square-foot structure, to be built along Ninth Street between Mary and Jackson streets, has been touted by city officials as embracing energy-efficient operations and using recycled building materials.
And that, city officials say, means less cost to the taxpayers.
It would replace the city’s bus barn at 421 S. Columbus Ave. The new facility, which has a price tag of $5.2 million, would allow a bus to areas downtown faster if another bus experiences maintenance problems, city officials say.
“I am pleased that the (federal) Transportation Department agreed with my request to fund this public transportation project, which is crucial for the safety of our citizens and the continued economic growth of Central Texas,” Edwards said in a statement.
Edwards is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
More than $7 million in federal funds has gone to the city for modernizing its transit system.
“Congressman Edwards has done a great job of getting us the funds,” Hendrickson said. “It’s taken us three years to get to this point, but we’ve got the building designed and we’re ready to go.”
Hendrickson marveled at the latest allocation of money during “such a tough legislative session.”