>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

The hub will serve as the headquarters for Community Connection's fast-growing transportation program, which includes fixed route bus service through La Grande and a Dial-A-Ride service for Community Connection clients. (Observer file photo).

- Bill Rautenstrauch

- The Observer

Construction of a multi-modal transportation hub in La Grande isn't a matter of if, but of when.

The center, funded mainly with ConnectOregon money, will begin to take shape just as soon as administrative and technical details can be worked out, said Frank Thomas, Community Connection of Northwest Oregon's Union County manager.

"We have authorization to go out, do good, and do good quickly," Thomas said last week.

ConnectOregon is a lottery-bond-based initiative approved by the Oregon Legislature.

Last year, the program made investments in air, rail, marine and transit infrastructure. The purpose was to ensure Oregon's transportation system remains strong, diverse and efficient.

In July, the Oregon Transportation Commission divvied up $100 million in ConnectOregon funding statewide. Three projects in Northeast Oregon garnered a total over $1.5 million.

The biggest award for local projects went to the proposed transit hub, an idea from Thomas.

The money has come through, but there is much to be done before work begins, Thomas said.

He said he expects the deal on the property for the hub, at the corner of Portland Street and East Penn Avenue, to close within a matter of days.

After that, architectural plans will be drawn up and a call for bids issued.

"From there, we'll have what we need to do the job," Thomas said. "There's just a lot of work to do before you can put up a project of this size."

Thomas said he expects permits to be issued and contracts to be awarded in August. He said he thinks the project will be complete around September 2008.

"I'd like to tell you when we're going to start moving dirt around, but at this point, I can't," he said.

The hub will serve as the headquarters for Community Connection's fast-growing transportation program, which includes fixed-route bus service through

La Grande and a Dial-A-Ride service for Community Connection clients.

Also, Greyhound Bus will move its station from the current location at the Flying J Travel Plaza Truck Stop, about three miles outside of La Grande.

"I told Frank we'd move the station back into town," said Donna Wilson, Greyhound's local agent. "If (the transportation hub) ever happens, that's the plan. My Greyhound supervisor says it won't be a problem."

Thomas said he has been meeting with Jeff Benecke, a Wallowa County resident who plans to start a three-times-weekly bus service between Wallowa and Union counties.

"What I'd like to do is coordinate his schedule with other things going on," Thomas said.

Office space at the hub will also be available for ARC, the La Grande taxi company. Thomas said he thinks that will be a boon for bus travelers.

"It will be easy for people coming in on the bus to hook up with a cab," he said.

Cost of the transportation hub project is $1.1 million. The ConnectOregon award covers 80 percent, or $894,000.

The remaining 20 percent will come from various local sources in the form or cash and in-kind contributions.

Thomas said Union County was a primary contributor. The county sponsored the grant request, contributed $10,000 to the match and dedicated a portion of the senior center parking lot for the hub.

Island City, Elgin and La Grande are backing the project as well. No decision has been reached, but the City of La Grande is considering helping with engineering.

Thomas said he thinks the hub will benefit local communities in general and the public transit system in particular.

"By putting transit all in one place, we make it easier to use," he said. "When it's easier to use, we open ourselves to a larger segment of the market."

The project was one of three awarded funding from the ConnectOregon program.

Also approved was Sky Highway's application for $85,000 to start an air charter service at the Union County Airport, and the Wallowa Union Railroad's $533,000 application for passenger rail cars.

Union County General Services Officer Dennis Spray, who oversees airport operations, said he has heard that Sky Highway has decided not to proceed with its project. Rilah Epling of Sky Highway could not be reached for comment for this story.

The Wallowa-Union Railroad purchased three rail diesel cars to replace the aging passenger cars currently used for train excursions.

Two of the RDCs are ready for service and a third is yet to be shipped.

Wallowa-Union Railroad car man Dale Shumway said the RDCs will take take their first trip on the line Memorial Day weekend.

Currently, the Legislature is considering legislation that would provide a second round of ConnectOregon funding.