Thomas Gounley

TGOUNLEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

The most positive description that City Utilities leaders have for their current bus transfer station — a drab, cramped facility between Park Central West and West McDaniel — is "utilitarian."

Introducing renderings for the planned new station on Thursday, General Manager for IT and Transportation Kathy Fritts focused on three different words that guided its design.

Safe. Relevant. Cool.

The goal was to make the planned $4 million facility between North Main and North Grant safe for pedestrians, passengers and CU employees. Ample lighting, and a minimal number of areas where individuals would cross in front of buses.

It needed to be relevant to its intended purpose. The plans aim for maximum visibility, so that passengers getting of one bus can see the bus they need to transfer to. And canopies above the outdoor waiting area are split and sloped outward, in an attempt to ensure noise from the vehicles doesn't become trapped underneath.

"And it needs to be cool," Fritts said. "Because it's a heck of an investment, and we want it to be a nice addition to the downtown area."

The plans were drawn up by Springfield-based H Design Group, and presented by Fritts Thursday to the Board of Public Utilities.

A special area for customers to rest by leaning — designed for a short stay — lines the outdoor waiting area, although there are some benches. A building on site will offer more seating, offices for security and a supervisor and an on-site multipurpose room that CU envisions will be used by community organizations that want to more easily meet with those who use the transit system.

"I think it's a way of trying to create a convenience for people ... to bring the services to our customers," CU General Manager Scott Miller said. "And it will be interesting to see how that evolves."

There will also be a ticket vending window and a ticket machine and arrival and departure information. Outside, there is an area along the street where taxis can easily stop, and space set aside for a potential bike share program.

Specifics of the design — including what might go in an outdoor plaza area — are expected to be complete by December, and then the project will be put out to bid. Construction could begin in early 2015, ending sometime in early 2016. CU plans to coordinate with the City of Springfield, which will be working on a streetscape project nearby. CU has previously stated that Federal Transit Administration is covering about 80 percent of the cost of the new station. FTA must approve the plans.

"I think it will fit in really well," Miller said.