[EastSideHBG]

Thanks for the info, Chris, and I agree.

Some more news:

Transit projects gas up on federal grants

Friday, September 10, 2004
BY JOHN LUCIEW AND FRANK COZZOLI
Of The Patriot-News

Two midstate transportation projects are getting revved up by millions in federal money awarded yesterday.

The Federal Transit Administration announced $5.1 million in grants earmarked for two long-planned projects.

The Derry Twp. Industrial and Commercial Development Authority will get $3.2 million for the construction of an Intermodal Center in downtown Hershey.

And Capital Area Transit received $1.9 million to help pay for preliminary engineering and environmental work along Corridor One, the 54-mile rail line between Lancaster and Harrisburg.

The Hershey facility will be an open-air bus transit center and passenger waiting area. Construction is expected to begin as early as October.

The center will be connected to a three-level, 351-space garage. Plans call for another 250 parking spaces to be added in the second phase of the project, to be completed sometime in 2006.

The center will combine plenty of parking with bus connections to Harrisburg and Lebanon, as well as the possibility for trolley and light rail service in the future.

"We surprised a lot of people who didn't think we'd get this money appropriated this year," said Derry Twp. Commissioner August "Skip" Memmi, who is also vice chairman of Derry's Industrial and Commercial Development Authority.

Memmi added that the Intermodal Center is part of a larger project intended to revitalize a two-block area in downtown Hershey.

The new parking area will be located next to the press building, which Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. is renovating for use as the company's headquarters.

Calls to Hershey Entertainment were not returned yesterday.

"This will revitalize two blighted blocks downtown," Memmi said of the overall project, which is expected to cost between $10 million and $12 million. Derry Twp. is seeking other federal and state money for the work, along with floating bonds.

CAT officials said they were happy to get the funding for the Corridor One project, but added that the money was expected nearly a year ago.

"We're thankful, but disappointed that it was such a long process," said James H. Hoffer, CAT's executive director.

CAT is working on an $80 million project to bring local train service to a 40.5-mile segment of Corridor One between Lancaster and just east of Mechanicsburg.

Without the funding, CAT was forced to tell its consultant, Gannett Fleming of East Pennsboro Twp., to slow the pace of work.

"We basically slipped four or five months," Hoffer said. "We had hoped to be finished in July or August."

CAT hopes to have the work done by the end of the year, with the final report in the hands of the FTA early next year.

The FTA must approve the engineering and environmental assessment before the project can move into final design and construction.

Hoffer blamed the delay in the funds to the absence of a federal transportation bill. The Transportation Equity Act -- 21st Century expired last September and hasn't been replaced.

Since then, transportation funding has been coming from a series of extensions passed by Congress.

CAT expects trains to start running between Lancaster and Harrisburg some time in 2006. Service west to just east of Mechanicsburg may begin some time in 2007. Service to Carlisle is expected in 2010.