Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 25, 1990 TAG: 9006250277
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That was the theme by speakers today at dedication ceremonies for the facility at Campbell Avenue and 12th Street Southeast.
Valley Metro moved into the new center in April, but the dedication had been delayed.
The operations center and garage center will enable mechanics to work on buses during the winter without having to open outside doors every time a bus is brought in for fuel or regular servicing.
On cold winter days, Valley Metro's mechanics have shivered and their hands have become almost numb as they tried to repair buses while wind blew through the open doors in the old garage.
Because of cramped quarters at the garage at Campbell Avenue and 12th Street Southeast, there was no separate enclosed space for mechanics to do maintenance work and make major repairs on buses. They had to work in the same area where buses get fueled and washed.
Valley Metro could squeeze its fleet of 38 buses into the old garage at night to protect them from the rain and snow. But the buses had to be taken out of the one-story building each morning before mechanics started to work.
The bus company's administrative and office staff was cramped into small, dimly lit cubicles with barely enough space to work.
The operations center has two stories or levels: one for fueling and regular servicing of buses and a second level for garage and maintenance operations. All administrative offices will be on the second level.
The buses will be stored on the first level and they won't be taken to the second level unless they need maintenance and repair work.
The operations center and garage is not to be confused with Campbell Court, the downtown bus terminal that opened two years ago.
Federal and state money has paid most of the cost for the new center. Valley Metro received about $5 million in federal and state funds.
The city's share of the cost was covered by the donation of the site under the funding formula.
Stephen Mancuso, general manager of the bus company, said the old garage was too small and too expensive to heat and cool. Architects said the cost for renovating the old building would have been high.
Mancuso said it would have also been difficult to renovate the building while it was being used.
The city is trying to market the old garage for economic development uses to help stimulate business in the Southeast section of the city. Several prospects have shown interest in the building.
by CNB