YORK COUNTY — The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority broke ground Thursday on its new, $13.3 million Northern Transfer Center.
In an event attended by local officials, WATA staff and other members of the community, Executive Director Matthew Scalia noted the groundbreaking was a milestone for WATA.
“When you’re a small transit company and your largest construction project is a bus shelter, to do not just one, but two major construction projects simultaneously, is a bit much, so DRPT (Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation) has come in and provided enormous support to us,” Scalia said.
The second facility is a new operations and maintenance facility slated to open in September of 2026.
Currently, four of WATA’s routes transfer in the space between the Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement on E. Rochambeau Drive. The new facility will provide both riders and operators with indoor and outdoor waiting areas, a second customer service center, bus information display screens, bathrooms, and even a snack area with an opportunity for a vendor to come in.
Deputy County Administrator of York County Brian Fuller, York County Board of Supervisors Chair Sheila Noll and Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Tiffany Robinson also spoke at the event.
DRPT contributed in the neighborhood of $6 million to the project. Robinson said the project is a testament to what can be accomplished when, federal, state and local partners come together to invest in the future of public transportation.
“The Commonwealth of Virginia is proud to have contributed nearly $6 million to this effort through DRPT funding in July of 2024,” she said. “Our department is prioritizing investments just like this to ensure that passenger facilities are a secure place for passengers to transfer and for drivers to take a breather. The Northern Transfer Center will be a vital piece of infrastructure … providing connections to medical services businesses and recreational facilities.”
The center will be located on property in York County at 6166 Old Mooretown Road near Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and the R.F. Wilkinson Family YMCA.
WATA contracted with Wendel in December 2022, for architect and design services. Syncon was awarded the contract to build the transfer center, with a target date of August 2026.
