Updated: Ground broken on $10 million transit hub in Wilmington

689
Advertisement

State and local officials are expected to be on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking of a new Wilmington Transit Center on Monday.

The $10 million center is being constructed as part of a public-private partnership between DelDOT/DTC and Transit Center, LLC (Colonial Parking, EDiS Company, and Emory Hill Real Estate Services, Inc.), using state and private funds. Completion is slated for December 2019.

The new transit center, to be served by most bus routes in Wilmington, will have the capacity to handle up to 10 buses stage at one time allowing bus layovers without blocking city streets.

The center will offer customers a covered, seated waiting area, real-time bus displays, ticket sales, WiFi, USB charging stations, restrooms, vending machines, and bike racks with a bike repair station.

“We are making millions of dollars of needed infrastructure investments across the city, and this is another milestone project for Wilmington,” said Gov. John Carney. “This transit center will serve thousands of customers every day and provide the convenience and amenities that they deserve.”

Advertisement

The transit center on Walnut Street will provide easier access to Amtrak, SEPTA, Greyhound/Trailways, and cabs. The center will also offer parking for rental cars, as well as public parking including electric car charging stations.

The ceremony comes as the controversy continues to simmer over the dismantling of the Rodney Square DART hub.

A coalition of riders has demanded the restoration of the hub around the Wilmington landmark and claimed riders, some in fragile physical condition, have to walk blocks to make bus connections.

They also claim the state, under pressure from business,  bypassed the hearings process to change the hub.

The group is now making its case to federal transit regulators.

Supporters of the hub change, including Carney,  pointed to the future transit club as a long-term solution to the concerns of riders.

Advertisement
Advertisement