Department of Transportation promises at least $8.5 million in grants.
Centro bus riders wait at the stop on South Salina and Fayette streets in Syracuse, the current hub for passenger transfer. Centro wants to move the hub away from downtown's congested core. Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation today plans to announce that it is awarding at least $8.5 million in grants to Centro --- among only 53 bus and transit projects nationwide to win a national competition for the money.
Peter M. Rogoff, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, is expected to travel to Syracuse for the announcement.
All told, nearly $300 million will be distributed nationally for transit projects that include bus services, bus “livability” projects, streetcars and trolley projects.
Centro is expected to use all or most of the money for construction of its long-delayed Common Center, a transfer station for bus passengers in downtown Syracuse, according to sources familiar with the grant.
The money is from two new programs -- the Urban Circulator Grant Program and the Bus and Bus Facilities Livability grant program -- that President Barack Obama’s administration announced in December.
Centro officials, contacted Wednesday, declined to discuss specific details about the purpose of the grant money.
Likewise, the offices of U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who both advocated for Centro’s grant application, declined comment in advance of the announcement.
Centro has already secured more than $7 million in federal grants and aid for the construction of the new commuter hub/bus transfer station in downtown Syracuse.
The U.S. Department of Transportation agreed in September to provide an additional $2.5 million for the project, estimated to cost $14 million.
Centro has spent more than 12 years trying to relocate and build the new passenger transfer station at East Adams, South Warren and South Salina streets. The purpose of the new hub is to ease congestion in downtown’s central core by replacing the existing Centro Common Center at South Salina and Fayette streets.
Centro officials have said the new Common Center will include an enclosed waiting area for riders with extended waits, weather-protected outdoor waiting areas and an automated fare vending machine. Centro has said it would like to begin construction this fall.
Contact Washington correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.