On July 30, 2024, Freedom Transit of Washington County gratefully accepted a $15 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that will be used for the creation of a new 88,000 square foot maintenance and bus storage facility estimated to cost $54 million. In 2022, Freedom Transit purchased 12 acres that was previously a golf driving range along Berry Road in South Strabane Township. Freedom Transit Executive Director Sheila Gombita reported that demolition of the site is expected to take place in Fall 2024, to break ground on the new facility in Summer 2025, and to complete the project in Winter 2026.
According to FTA Regional Administrator Terry Garcia Crews who was in attendance to present the check to Freedom Transit, the FTA grant was one of only 117 awarded nationally. The project has a variety of funding sources alongside FTA’s including $297,110 of Local Share Account (LSA) funding of which RACW will be administering. According to PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania has committed $17 million of state funds for the project.
Freedom Transit has been supported by the County since 2001 and has a mission “to connect people who live, work, learn, and play in Washington County and surrounding areas by providing high-quality, accessible public transportation services.” For more information about Freedom Transit, click HERE to visit their website.