Schenectady, N.Y. – The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority today announced that it has reached an agreement with Adirondack Trailways to upgrade the Schenectady Bus Station located at 22 State Street. The bus station upgrade adds to the momentum in the lower State Street area of downtown Schenectady which is now the focus of a major rebuilding effort.
“Adirondack Trailways is proud to be partnering with the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority to enhance and improve our facility at 22 State Street. Trailways has served Schenectady for many decades and as good community citizens, we are pleased to have this opportunity to improve our property in a way that will benefit both Schenectady and Trailways,” said Anne M. Noonan, Vice President for Marketing and Traffic at Adirondack Trailways.
“It is very important that the bus station be fixed as part of our revitalization efforts on lower State Street,” said Marty Finn, Chair of the County Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development. “This brings us another step closer to our goal of a vibrant downtown area with student housing at SCCC and the creation of new green space with Gateway Plaza.”
Mayor Gary McCarthy said, “The City welcomes the news that the bus station will be improved. Adirondack Trailways has a long history of friendly service to the traveling public. These upgrades to their facility will ensure a positive experience for years to come for individuals taking the bus.”
Adirondack Trailways has hired Schenectady-based architect Stracher, Roth and Gilmore to design bus station upgrades to include a new façade, interior improvements, new landscaping and other enhancements to the current site and station including the ticket area, waiting area and parking lots.
Metroplex approved a $50,000 façade matching grant to help support the project with Trailways funding the balance of project costs.
Ray Gillen, Chair of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority said, “Downtown is a transportation hub with CDTA’s Bus Plus service, the region’s only downtown rail station, a second track to improve Amtrak service and a new Rail Station being built by CDTA. The Bus station offers great service, but the facility is very outdated. This improvement will provide another boost to our efforts to redevelop lower Street Street near SCCC.”
In the same area as the Trailways station, an $11 million, 100,000 square foot student housing complex is under construction, a $5 million new music wing for SCCC is also under construction, $14 million in improvements to Erie Boulevard are about to get underway and the City is leading an effort with State and Metroplex funding to create a new Gateway Plaza to expand and renovate Liberty Park.
Project designs will be completed this year with work to start in late 2012.
In other action by the Metroplex Board, a $60,000 façade grant was approved for 308 Union Street. The building which faces both Broadway and lower Union Street has been vacant for a number of years. The 8,000 square foot building was purchased by Zachen Properties. The new owners are conducting a major renovation of the structure transforming the vacant structure into a new downtown venue. Zachen Properties is investing over $400,000 in the project. The Metroplex grant is designed to help with extensive exterior façade improvements.
The development of 308 Union adds to momentum on the lower Union Street corridor where 414 Union is being rehabbed for use as a corporate office and 8 new town homes are under construction at the corner of Union and Barrett Street.
The Metroplex Board also approved a $31,565 grant that is required as local match for a State grant announced last fall by the Governor’s office as part of the Regional Economic Development Council. The Metroplex grant leverages a much larger State grant of $284,090 to bring infrastructure from Route 50 in Glenville into the Airport Business Park creating shovel ready sites for growing businesses. The project is designed to add tax base and jobs at the Airport Business Park.