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LAUREN WOOD / THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Mississippi Department of Transportation Director of the Office of Intermodal Planning Charles Carr speaks while the Rev. Bishop T.C. McBeth, from left, Mayor Butch Brown, Natchez Transit System Executive Director Sabrena Bartley and MDOT Transportation Commissioner Tom King sit on stage during the transit facility groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning.

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Leaders break ground on transit facility

Published 12:07am Saturday, October 6, 2012

NATCHEZ — Regionalism was the buzzword Friday, and area transportation officials say the idea is about to hit the road.protect

Natchez Transit System Executive Director Sabrena Bartley said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Natchez Regional Transit Facility that the facility was planned with all of Southwest Mississippi in mind.

“What we are celebrating today is a positive difference in Natchez and Adams County and all of southwest Mississippi, regionally,” Bartley said.

Mississippi Deportment of Transportation Southern District Commissioner Tom King said the facility is the centerpiece of regional efforts led by NTS to coordinate public and private transportation resources.

“The scope (of this facility) extends beyond the City of Natchez,” King said. “Today symbolizes that collaboration and commitment works.”

Charles R. Carr, director of MDOT’s Office of Intermodal Planning, said the facility is a step toward making the vision of regional transportation a reality.

Mayor Butch Brown said Carr’s and Bartley’s dedication to work and vision of innovation as an essential part of making the facility a reality.

“This (facility) is the poster child and product (of that vision),” Brown said. “It is going to set the example and raise the bar for regional transportation.”

The facility, which will be located at the corner of Wood Avenue and North Shields Lane, is designed to be a regional transfer hub, a modern maintenance center and a regional transportation call-and-dispatch center, King said. It will also include a park-and-ride lot, space for vehicle parking, a regional training classroom and retail space for operators and private transportation service.

LAUREN WOOD / THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Alderman Mark Fortenbery, center, and other officials shovel dirt during the ceremony.

Several organizations and agencies, Bartley has said, have committed to be a part of the regional transit effort that will be centralized by the facility. Those organizations include the AJFC Community Action Agency, Claiborne County Human Resource Agency, Copiah County Resource Agency, First Class Limousine Service, the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors and approximately 12 other groups.

The state-of-the-art facility will cost approximately $4.28 million to build, King said. The facility, its equipment, as well as two recently purchased trolleys, commuter bus and two other passenger vehicles, are being funded by a $3 million federal stimulus package through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

MDOT is providing $900,000 in MDOT Formula Grants For Other than Urbanized Areas program, or Section 5311, funds to help pay for approximately $1 million in unforeseen costs for the facility.

The city will also have to pay approximately $175,000 in matching funds for the 5311 funds.

The facility must be completed by November 2013.

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  • Anonymous

    Okay, call me a negative person all you want. But how ironic that MDOT was in town to speak/break ground for this VERY expensive project, and right down the road at the Liberty Road bridge is a prime example of government waste and upkeep. That bridge area’s landscaping is HORRIBLE !!!! Completely overgrown by weeds!!!! What an eyesore. It would be better to just poison all the stuff and concrete over it all. WHAt A NICE “gift” FROM MDOT(under Brown). We should expect the same upkeep and maintainence of this transit facility. Sorry if this is negative, but look at the history.

  • Anonymous

    And I cannot even imagine what tourists think when they see this deplorable spot! But , hey!- practically ALL the major streets/roads coming into Natchez – such as coming off the bridge to Canal- is a DISASTER! Is this the “Glory Days” that Natchez is supposed to be returning to?

  • Anonymous

    WE’RE MOVING ON UP.

  • Anonymous

    Let’s be perfectly honest and leave political correctness at the door. This is about carting minorities (actually the majority) around at taxpayer expense. The people who voted for Butch “Gimme a Grant” Brown should be forced to be the sole financiers of this complete waste of money.

  • Anonymous

    I also love how the city has a big wrecker truck that was “grant-monied” to the city, which just SITS at public works and does NOTHING because NOONE is qualified/certified to operate it!!! It sits and sits. And so, if a trolley breaks down, they call CHOPS to go pick it up )at taxpayer expense). Typical, typical, typical. How long has that wrecker truck sat there and noone trained to operate it?? What a waste.

  • Anonymous

    Like I said before, we need this like we need a brain tumor. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with the clowns in the picture.

  • Anonymous

    You name one of the “more to come” grant constructed projects that will be dumped on the taxpayers to maintain them after construction. A prime example of what many of us commenters on this website offer in our opinions.

  • Anonymous

    With this new facility, it will no longer have to sit at public works out of sight. They will probably park it at the new transportation facility for all to see as you ride along the bypass.

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