The Mountain State Transit Authority (MTA) has officially commenced a major renovation and expansion project at its headquarters in Summersville. This development marks a significant milestone for the public transit provider, which has served as a vital community lifeline for decades.
According to Bill Robinson, Executive Director of Public Transit for the WVDOT Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities, this initiative represents the first of several headquarter rehabilitation projects designed to meet the public's regional transit needs for the next 20 years.
| Project Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | MTA Headquarters, Summersville, West Virginia |
| Total Estimated Cost | $2.12 Million |
| Federal Funding | $1.69 Million (via the Federal Transit Administration - FTA) |
| Counties Served | Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, and Greenbrier |
| Estimated Completion | Fall 2025 |
Community Impact and Regional Connectivity
MTA operates essential bus services across a broad four-county footprint, including the communities of Summersville, Richwood, Webster Springs, and Lewisburg. The network expanded in 2021 to include Pocahontas County, bridging critical transit gaps for rural residents. Furthermore, MTA's routes connect to the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority (KRT), offering seamless travel links to Fayette County and larger urban hubs.
“We have several people tell us, if it wasn’t for MTA, they would not be able to go to jobs,” said MTA General Manager Tim Thomas. “They would not be able to go to medical. They would not be able to go to school. And by school, I mean college.”
Facility Upgrades and Project Scope
The comprehensive renovation aims to modernize the current property to handle increasing service demands and fleet growth. Key upgrades include:
- New Administrative Spaces: Construction of modern office spaces to better support operational and administrative staff.
- Dedicated Training Facilities: A brand-new training room to serve as a centralized hub for driver education and ongoing professional development programs.
- Garage Expansion: Enlarging the maintenance and storage garage area to safely house and service a growing fleet of transit buses.
This project is part of a broader regional effort by the Multimodal Division to improve transportation equity and access across the Appalachian regions of West Virginia, ensuring remote communities remain robustly connected to vital economic and educational centers.
