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Intermodal.... still delayed....

Bus riders still waiting for transfer facility

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser


Work was expected to be complete by now on the city's intermodal bus transfer facility, but construction has not started and riders continue to wait in the elements along Dexter Avenue.

"I was hoping we would be done now, but we haven't started," Mayor Bobby Bright said.

While the city has worked through a variety of issues, riders such as Kathy McNally have continued to wait in all kinds of weather.

McNally, who said she is a staunch supporter of the bus system, has experienced seizures waiting for buses. She rides five or six days a week.

"Getting that building built is going to help me," McNally said.

Bright is hopeful physical work will begin at the downtown site in the next 40 days, although he has been hopeful several times in the past.

"If we can get through these legal issues, we can move forward," he said.

Legal issues, high bids and coordinating the project with the federal government have delayed construction, Bright said.

The expected cost of the first phase is $4.5 million, but the bids twice have come back more than $2 million over that budget.

"That's a big difference," Bright said. "Something has got to be trimmed."

He said alternative materials can be used in the project to reduce costs and he wants to reduce some administrative and management fees.

"We are value engineering the project so we get the project back in budget and get it started," Bright said.

He said they are in discussions with the project manager attempting to find ways to lower the cost.

Bright said the project was discussed before he was mayor. The city started entering into contracts and agreements on the project two years ago. He said some contractors are trying to work their way out of those agreements.

"The cost of construction and materials have significantly increased," Bright said.

The costs are expected to continue to increase in the wake of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita.