BURLINGTON, VT PC Construction representatives joined a host of federal, state, and Burlington city officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $7.7 million, 10,250-square-foot Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA) Downtown Transit Center intended to support growing ridership, transform customer experiences, and promote economic development in Burlington, Vermont, and beyond.

Collaborating with the design team of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), which is providing engineering services, and TruexCullins as the lead architectural design consultant, PC Construction expects to complete CCTA's new transportation hub during the summer of 2016.

"We're moving Burlington's central bus depot from a shed on one side of Cherry Street to a modern, fully-equipped transit center that compares favorably with transportation facilities in much larger metro areas, including airports and big-city train stations," said Miro Weinberger, Mayor of Burlington and a long-time advocate for public transportation in Vermont's largest city.

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, the most senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who secured the federal funding for the project, joined Mayor Weinberger at the groundbreaking. Senator Leahy noted in his remarks the importance of public transit for all citizens, especially in rural states like Vermont where most people cannot walk or ride a bike to work.

Once the two-level terminal is completed, CCTA expects that the Downtown Transit Center will serve more than one million riders annually. Amenities will include a climate-controlled indoor waiting area, restrooms, and a covered steel-and-glass canopy. In addition, a secure, on-site break room on the lower level will provide a respite for drivers between shifts and will include a kitchen, quiet room, and restrooms.

Karen Walton, General Manager, CCTA said, "Our passengers deserve a first-class facility, and we are excited that this partnership between CCTA and PC Construction is going to give them just that."