Demolition of buildings for new transit center could start soon

MOSES LAKE Demolition work could begin this month on a $1.7 million Grant Transit Authority multi-modal transit center in Moses Lake.

The transit center will use about an acre of land at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Division to serve commuters, transit officials said. It used to be a funeral home.

Grant Transit is seeking a Regional Mobility Program Grant through the state Department of Transportation to pay for up to 80 percent of the cost of the new center. State lawmakers are expected to budget the grant this spring, which would prompt the centers construction.

We probably wont even learn until April if the funding is approved. Its looking very positive at this point, Grant Transit Project Manage Lyle Bland said.

The grant was expected to get legislative approval through the state transportation budget.

Construction work on the site is not expected to begin until fall or early 2016, Bland said.

Asbestos is being removed from the existing structures on the site, Bland said. If test samples show no asbestos then demolition can commence.

The transit board awarded a contract to Central Washington Excavating Inc. of Moses Lake to demolish the old structures.

The transit center is planned to serve as a hub for Grant Transit and other bus lines. It will include passenger amenities such as an enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, customer information, pass sales area, bicycle storage lockers and a taxi drop-off and pick-up area.

The site will include a park-and-ride lot with an electric vehicle charging station, transfer areas to inter-city bus transportation, a meeting room for community events and video camera surveillance system as part of its security.

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Demolition of buildings for new transit center could start soon