Officials break ground for $41.4 million Lebanon Transit facility

Noting the significance in providing transportation services to those who rely on them, Lebanon Transit and state officials broke ground Wednesday for the authority’s new $41.4 million operations and maintenance facility.

PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll spoke of the critical need the facility will help meet for those who use shared and fixed ride services offered by the transit authority, located at 200 Willow St., Lebanon.

The $41.429 million transportation complex will include a 20,000-square-foot maintenance facility and a combined 40,000-square-foot garage and operations building that will house 18 buses and 14 vans. Construction has commenced with demolition of the old Lebanon Transit (LT) facilities and is expected to continue through late April 2028.

“There is transit in every single county in the state, and on average 65% of folks who utilize that transit say that that is their only option, and that math applies to Lebanon County as well,” Carroll said during remarks prior to the ceremony. “Two-thirds of the folks who ride these facilities, whether it’s fixed or shared rides, have no other alternative or way to get where they need to go. So it is critically important for people in our community that rely on this transit network and I thank the LT folks for their great work. Of course, public transit is a lifeline for those folks and for the folks that use it in its totality.”

While Carroll said the state’s investment is $21 million, Lebanon Transit executive director Angie Luciotti clarified to LebTown after the ceremony that the project cost had been lowered from $48 million, meaning the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s final share would be about $17 million instead of $21 million. The balance of the project, which comes with no cost increase in fares to riders, is around $24 million in federal funding and approximately $700,000 from local coffers.

“So clearly there’s been a tremendous investment by PennDOT with respect to transit and capital projects,” Carroll said. “Agencies like Lebanon Transit make a real difference, a real positive difference in Pennsylvania’s lives every day. Lebanon Transit provided more than 240,000 trips last year, and I thank the team at the authority for their wonderful work, and to those 240,000 riders.”

LebTown reported in mid-January that transit officials planned to consolidate transit services into one location instead of the two locations it currently owns and operates. Administration and fixed bus routes are at 200 Willow St., while shared ride services are based nearby at 145 Schneider Drive.

Besides consolidating services into one location, Lebanon Transit’s facilities are over 30 years old and “undersized to handle the current fleet.”

LT board chairman Franklin Shearer said PennDOT began discussions with LT in 2018 regarding the need for a new, updated facility. Those talks included building consolidation and newer compressed natural gas buses.

PennDOT conducted a feasibility study in 2023, he said, and LT acquired additional land near its existing facilities.

“Preliminary engineering and an environmental study were completed in 2023. Final design was completed, value engineering was performed, DEP permits were received, utility improvements addressed, and construction estimates were provided,” Shearer said.

Last fall, the transit authority presented an update to county commissioners, who were all very supportive, according to Shearer.

“Since then, LT received the local match contribution from the city of Lebanon and from casino awards as well as a county funding commitment in addition to funding commitments from federal and state authorities,” he said.

After the event, LebTown asked Carroll how state officials can encourage more rural riders to use public transportation.

“Well first, there’s never going to be as many transit riders in Lebanon as there are in Philly for the obvious reason, there are way more people in Philly than there are in Lebanon County,” he said. “But what I would say is that when it comes to the 240,000 folks, and we know that to be the number, those folks deserve the ability to navigate their community just like we invest in roads and bridges. So when it comes to PennDOT meeting the transportation needs of all Pennsylvanians, that includes transit as a very important mode.”

Luciotti highlighted for LebTown the ceremony’s symbolism beyond the ceremonial groundbreaking itself.

“The groundbreaking is not just about construction. It’s about creating opportunity, strengthening our organization and investing in the people and communities that we serve,” he said. “It’s about opportunity, growth, investment and a commitment to the future.”

When asked if the 52-member LT staff would grow once the new building opens in 2028 or if new routes might be created because of this project, Luciotti said both remain to be determined.