Omnitrans announces closing downtown land deal

Here's Omnitrans' press release:

Omnitrans Finalizes Purchase of Transit Station Land

San Bernardino Project to Connect Bus, Rail, and Bus Rapid Transit

San Bernardino, CA - Omnitrans has secured the deed to purchase 4.5 acres of property from the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Rialto and E Streets in San Bernardino. The agency plans a new intermodal transit station on the $1.9 million property to connect 13 of its current bus lines, its future E Street Corridor sbX bus rapid transit service, a proposed Metrolink extension, and a proposed Redlands Passenger Rail system.

"This purchase is the first step in the development of a state-of-the-art station that promises to be a convenient, efficient transportation hub for San Bernardino Valley residents," said CEO/General Manager Durand Rall. "We look forward to moving ahead with this exciting project."

Indeed, Omnitrans' centrally-located new station will replace the agency's Fourth Street Transit Mall, where 10,000 bus trips originate each day from stops scattered along a four-block area. The agency has taken on this multi-year project in collaboration with the City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Bernardino, which is also proposing a Transit-Oriented Development Village. The Village would feature mixed-use developments such as retail, commercial, and housing, on and around the station site. The approximately $25 million station project will be funded from a combination of federal, state and local sources.

Upon approval from its Board of Directors, Omnitrans expects to release a request for proposals next March to hire a consultant team for the preliminary design phase of the station project. This phase will include pre-development, conceptual design, and visioning services for the transit station and Transit Village Development District. Construction of the station is set to begin in 2011, following completion of the final design. The San Bernardino Transit Station is scheduled to open in 2012.