ASHLAND — Two construction firms expressed interested in building a new public transit headquarters facility in downtown Ashland, but a holding pattern continues as the city works to find additional funding.
The proposals from Ashland-based Simonson Construction Services and Cleveland-based John G. Johnson Construction were submitted on Oct. 16.
But Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said a firm hasn’t been formally chosen. Proposials are still under review by the city’s engineering office and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s project consultant.
Proceeding on the next step hinges on whether the city can secure more funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation, Miller said.
Ashland was informed it would receive $1.32 million through an ODOT grant in September 2022. But the project got delayed when the Federal Transit Administration expressed concern over the city’s purchase of the project’s property before a mandated environmental clearance process.
By the time that glitch cleared up, prices for construction increased.
“So we’re working with ODOT to secure more funding for it,” Miller said.
The plan
The plan is to construct a 14,500 square-foot facility on the corner of Third and Union streets.
Officials have said the building will include office space for a 14-person staff, a wash bay, a mechanical working area, 20 bays and a room to store its fleet of 10 vehicles.
Simonson, in its proposal submitted to the city, said crews could finish the facility by September 2026.
The local construction firm cited its experience in building the city’s second fire station, a fire station in Plymouth, and Hillsdale School District’s bus garage, among other related projects.
John G. Johnson Construction estimated it could complete the project by December 2026, citing its completion of a maintenance facility in Cleveland, a fire station in Painesville Township, and Wooster’s safety center as related experience.