The Brattleboro Transportation Center is an award-winning brownfield project. Stevens & Associates prepared the final site design for a five-level, 300-car parking garage that provides coordinated transfers between local and regional bus service, Amtrak rail service, van pools, and pedestrian and bicycle routes.
The facility includes a passenger waiting area, public restrooms, a parking enforcement office, and 8,000 square feet of commercial space. It also creates a vital mid-block connection between two major downtown streets separated by 40 feet of grade change. Its construction required extensive coordination between the Town of Brattleboro, design team members, contractors, and numerous abutters.
From its initial conception through the construction phase, the project was circumscribed by tight deadlines and strict budgets. Working with town officials, S&A played a leading role in the public campaign resulting in a successful bond vote for the project. We led a team of six design firms to complete the Environmental Assessment process within a very short six month period in order to secure $1.5 million in federal funding.
When unanticipated acquisition costs threatened the project’s vitality, we developed a strategy for re-configuring the entire structure in order to reduce costs and bring the project back into budget. The entire project was designed, permitted, and open for use in only 18 months.
The Brattleboro Transportation Center provides a multi-modal transit connection for the entire region, making it easier for lower and middle income residents to travel to work in the downtown area. Preserving historic structures surrounding the parking garage has helped to maintain the character of the neighborhood. The additional parking contained within the facility is critical to downtown Brattleboro’s viability as a regional center, while improving pedestrian connectivity with an elevator that bridges the grade change between Elliot and Flat Streets for the elderly and handicapped.
While working with public committees, municipal departments, a public owner, and nearly 20 design professionals over the course of the project, S&A successfully navigated around archeological issues, hazardous environmental conditions, and historic preservation concerns to make this project happen. As a motivating force behind this project, our role encompassed public relations, regulatory liaison, funding negotiation, and design leadership. This project demonstrates the capacity of the engineering profession to expand beyond technical expertise and into community leadership.