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Pocono News Section
New Transportation Facility Opens in Hazleton
New Transportation Facility Opens in Hazleton - Monday, November 16, 2009 at 5:45PM EST
Reported by: Eyewitness News
Monday, Nov 16, 2009 @ 05:45pm EST
HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY -- The city of Hazleton officially opened a new transportation center Monday. The Church Street Station is an intermodal facility and itŐs the first of its kind in Luzerne County.
For people who live and work in center city Hazleton, it's viewed as a major boost to the revitalization of the downtown.
It is located at the intersection of South Church and Mine Streets. Some call it the gateway to Hazleton's future.
The Church Street Station project has been in the works for 9 years. The 12-million dollar project will be used as a transportation hub for the Hazleton area. City and private buses can come here now. In the future itŐs hoped to be used as a railway station for daily trips to Philadelphia and New York. There is also retail and office space inside.
For some residents, itŐs a dream come true. Janet Sockolosky said, "Oh, I'm just happy with it. The town is revitalizing here where the train station used to be. I lived in Nuremburg and came up by bus. It brings back memories."
Bill Spear owns Hazle Drugs in center city he and others say this shows commitment to downtown. "This shows the people who have stayed with downtown Hazleton, who had faith in our community, this transportation facility like this lends itself to bringing additional people into the downtown area," he said.
And this is just phase one. It could expand once again. "We are planning 4 parking decks on top of this which will bring more development. I've had two developers who will come to downtown Hazleton if parking decks exist on top of this facility," said Mayor Lou Barletta.
The parking decks will cost another 6-million dollars. It's believed this is the first transportation hub in Pennsylvania that was built, in part, with federal stimulus money. | | |
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