Citilink breaks ground on new transfer station

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Citilink officials will break ground on a new transfer station at Baker and Calhoun Streets in downtown Fort Wayne Monday.

The project will cost $4.4 million and federal funding will pay around eighty percent of the of it.

Fort Wayne company Hamilton Hunter Builders won the bid last week to build the new facility.

The new 2,700 square-foot transfer station will include a waiting room, with public and private restrooms, an office, a drivers' room and two loading platforms that can accommodate up to 18 buses.

Two large canopies will also be constructed to shelter riders from unpleasant weather conditions.

On Baker, they will tear down the old bus shelter that was built back in the 1980's.

Once this is completely finished, Citilink will close the Superior Street hub.

One major hurdle for Citilink over the last decade was to find the right location. At least six different locations were discussed including a site on Jefferson and Barr, but Citilink couldn't acquire enough land so they sold that land off.

Officials also believe this location could potentially help bring in new business to the immediate surrounding area.

The Citilink Transit Center is expected to be completed in about 12 months, but some are optimistic it could be done sooner.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m.