TRAVERSE CITY — The Bay Area Transit Authority, fresh off a huge showing of support in its November millage ballot, is taking that momentum and applying it to its Cass Road location.
Officials hope to start construction soon on a new waiting area and upgrades to its aging facility at Cass and South Airport roads.
The project is funded through grants, not millage funds, but BATA Executive Director Tom Menzel said agency officials want to show they're working on improvements.
"My feeling is because we had such a strong mandate of 75 percent, we really need to let people know we're actually going to do what we said we were going to do," Menzel said.
The Cass Street facility opened in 1989 and functions as an administrative office and base for BATA's 135 employees and fleet of 70 buses.
The project will include a 354-square-foot addition to the facility's existing entrance to add an enclosed waiting area for riders. Brick siding and a clock tower will match the look of the area to BATA's main transfer station on Hall Street.
"Part of it is about increasing our brand so it will look exactly like the downtown one," Menzel said. "When you see this you'll know this is public transit."
Eighty percent of the expected $329,000 project will be paid with a Federal Transportation Authority grant, with 20 percent funded through the Michigan Department of Transportation. BATA officials received six bids for the project and on Thursday tentatively selected Eckler Building Solutions as the contractor when it came in with the lowest cost.
The project must be completed by July 1, but Menzel hopes contractors will wrap construction well before then.
Region
Related Photos
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The Bay Area Transportation Authority Cass Road facility will soon undergo renovations that will include a new waiting area outside. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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