The Port Authority plans to tear down the McKeesport Transit Center early next year and temporarily add parking to the site before building a new facility in the future.
The authority also plans to add parking at the park-n-ride lot in Ross.
The transit center opened in the mid-1970s as a multi-modal site for passengers using buses and passenger trains along the former Baltimore & Ohio railroad tracks on Lysle Boulevard. Rail service between McKeesport and Downtown ended in 1989, and the building at the site has fallen into disrepair.
A Port Authority committee last week recommended the full board approve a $1.24 million contract with Terra Works Inc. of Clarion to demolish the building. The project also will include relocating utilities, creating additional parking and installing a precast bus shelter at the site.
Keith Wargo, assistant general manager for engineering and technical support, said demolition is expected to begin in January or February. Once the building is removed, the park-n-ride lot at the site will be expanded from 32 to 65 spaces.
Mr. Wargo said the agency is in the process of designing and finding the money to build a new transit center.
“Rather than demolish and build at the same time, we’re going to demolish now and we’ll create some additional parking,” he said. “We still need to get the money for construction, and that typically would be included in the capital budget [for 2017-18].”
The Terra Works contract also includes tearing down a salt dome and repairing the pavement to create additional parking at the park-n-ride lot in Ross.
Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.
First Published: November 18, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
