It’s official: WRTA gets funds for offices, buses

By Denise Dick

Twelve buses and five minivans will be bought with the stimulus money.

YOUNGSTOWN — The federal stimulus money is official, and now the Western Reserve Transit Authority awaits a permit from the city to erect temporary offices during its administrative offices expansion.

It’s been waiting for more than two weeks, said Don Meszaros, WRTA’s director of maintenance.

The temporary offices, which resemble trailers, are parked at the side of WRTA’s Mahoning Avenue building. Once the agency receives the required permit to occupy the temporary quarters, they’ll be placed in front of the administrative office building, Meszaros said.

It will take about three weeks to complete all of the wiring and other work to make the temporary offices usable for personnel.

“I understand that they’re short-staffed down there,” Meszaros said.

He said WRTA representatives have been in daily contact with the city about the necessary permit.

City officials couldn’t be reached.

James Ferraro, WRTA executive director, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, reports that the $3.5 million in federal stimulus funds to WRTA is official. Of that, $2.2 million is for renovation and expansion of its administration offices.

The remainder will be spent on 12 new buses, five new minivans, surveillance cameras and bus shelters.

“This is another example of how Congress and the Obama Administration are working together to invest in our community,” Ryan said in a news release. “This funding will help put people back to work while investing in our region’s critical infrastructure.”

Ferraro said that though the 12 buses had been ordered and were ready to be picked up, the agency had to await official announcement about the federal money to pay for them. The five minivans are expected to be available in about a week.

Meszaros conducted a pre-bid conference with contractors interested in bidding on the expansion/renovation project this week.

“The turnout was good, but not what I had anticipated,” he said.

Nine firms attended the meeting, completing an on-site inspection of offices. As of Wednesday, 26 bid proposal packages had been distributed.

The deadline to submit bids for the project has been extended to July 14 and bids will be opened that same day. The previous deadline was July 7.

denise_dick@vindy.com