Officials Say $11 Million Multi-Modal Hub in Oil City Will Spur Economy

| November 23, 2016

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – PennDOT officially announced its plans on Tuesday to interweave local transportation and economic development with its $11 million multi-modal hub in downtown Oil City.

In connection with PennDOT, Venango County and Oil City, the 12- to 18-month project is expected to enhance bus service and transportation throughout the county while supporting efforts to brings jobs and new life into the downtown area.

“When you think of the promise of the Multimodal Fund, you think about government cooperation, smart investment and creating value. Those fundamental tenants are part of this project,” said PennDOT District 1-0 Executive Bill Petit.

PennDOT Deputy Secretary Toby Fauver (right) and PennDOT District Executive Bill Petit (center) discuss plans for the new Oil City transportation hub.

PennDOT Deputy Secretary Toby Fauver (right) and PennDOT District Executive Bill Petit (center) discuss plans for the new Oil City transportation hub.

Last week, Governor Tom Wolf had awarded a $1 million redevelopment assistance capital grant to help fund the project.

Kim Thomas, regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, said the grant will further the impact of the funds PennDOT and local government agencies are investing in the project.

“This is much more than a transit hub. This is really an economic development that you’re going to see come to light,” said Thomas. “It’s going to provide additional growth and investment not just in Oil City, but in the Venango County region.”

Plans for the project would include building the 25,000-square-foot transportation hub adjacent to PennDOT on Elm Street and demolishing the parking garage. The move would allow Venango County to consolidate its existing transit services, which consists of 25 vehicles and 33 employees.

The new facility will include bus storage, maintenance and wash bay areas, shelter storage for bicycles and kayaks, and an office space.

Original plans involved building the facility on the parking garage site. However, the new plan came to light after it was discovered that vehicles accessing the facility located on the parking garage site would potentially cause heavy traffic and pedestrian and bicycle safety issues.

The new plan will allow for up to 30 additional public parking spaces on the parking garage site.

Other potential plans to combat safety issues include ending Elm Street a block earlier and creating a connector road onto Seneca Street.

PennDOT Deputy Secretary Toby Fauver said this plan would reduce heavy bus movements throughout downtown. A traffic analysis is currently being conducted in order to see if the idea is viable.

“It’s a multi-million dollar project, and we want to make sure it’s designed properly so it fits in the community and results in broader benefits than just building a transportation facility,” Fauver commented.

The first step in the project will be the demolition of the parking garage, which was condemned in 2011 due to safety concerns.

Homrich Wrecking, Inc. of Carleton, Mich. was awarded the parking garage demolition bid for $723,000.00.

Demolition is expected to begin by early 2017.


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