Transit Center warming up
Rendering courtesy of ALSC Architects/Kootenai County This rendering shows the overall layout of the future Riverstone Transit Center in Coeur d’Alene.
The Riverstone Transit Center will include outdoor restrooms and an outdoor sheltered area for riders to escape the weather elements. (Rendering courtesy of ALSC Architects/Kootenai County)
The future Riverstone Transit Center will include a controlled-access area for members of the public who have an appointment at the facility. (Rendering courtesy of ALSC Architects/Kootenai County)
COEUR d'ALENE — After several years in the making, Kootenai County is ready to get on the bus with constructing the Riverstone Transit Center.
"We anticipate construction starting in September and hopefully it will be done by June 2019," Jody Bieze, the county's public transportation director, said Monday after updating county commissioners on the project.
Construction bids will be opened on Aug. 14.
The 2,600-square-foot center and 80-space parking lot will be built on the dirt hub in Riverstone off Seltice Way.
"It's about time," said Shawn Riley, the county's building and grounds director. "It is needed. It will give people with disabilities much greater access to public transportation than they have now so they can go more places."
The center drew vocal outcry during the public hearing process from some residents who were concerned it would be a magnet for crime, a hangout for the homeless and could eventually connect with Spokane's public transportation system.
The complex will include an outdoor waiting area that offers some shelter for riders, outdoor restrooms, security cameras and bus lanes.
The inside of the building will include a break room for drivers, dispatch area, training area, office space and storage.
"The building itself will have controlled access," Riley said. "The public will only be able to access the building by appointment only."
Another parking lot will be added in the future.
The center will be connected to pedestrian paths in the area.
Bieze said the county has permission from the city to use the street next to the existing hub as a pick-up and drop-off spot during construction.
During Monday's brief discussion about the center, Commissioner Marc Eberlein said he wants to ensure the sloping roof is steep enough for snow to fall off and that the central area inside the building will not be a waiting area for riders.
The first phase was earlier estimated to cost roughly $2 million.
All the money has been secured, including $1.6 million in Federal Transit Administration and Idaho Transportation Department grants and $400,000 in matching funds from the county and other local jurisdictions.
There’s an average of 11,073 total rides on the urban routes of Citylink each month. The system serves Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Dalton Gardens and Huetter.
Bieze said about 5,000 riders transferred from one route to another at the existing hub in June.
"People have already been using it as a key hub," she said.
•In other business, Eberlein and Commissioner Bob Bingham told Riley it's OK to spend $48,000 in leftover funds from Americans with Disabilities Act projects at the North Idaho Fair on about 20 handicap-accessible paved parking spots at the fairgrounds.
The spots, which would offer the first paved parking areas for the public at fairgrounds, will be in front of the main gate and arena gate.