CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It's been years in the making! On Friday, folks who ride the bus in the South Port Avenue and Ayers Street area got to check out the CCRTA's newest transfer station.
The project made possible through the use of a $7.2 million federal grant.
An official ribbon cutting was held and included many public officials.
It was an exciting moment for riders on this side of town who depend on the bus as their only source of transportation and part of town where the demand is high.
Cynthia Medina was waiting to catch the bus under a nearby shade tree.
"It's nice I like it," she said.
She remembers what the transfer station used to look like, known for its bright colors and handcrafted tiles, but it was was very close to the busy roadway.
The new transfer station brings a modern touch, designed with safety in mind.
"One, our old station while it was neat with the mosaic work, it was in an unsafe portion being so close to the corner of Port and Ayers so we wanted to build something big, beautiful and represent the community and be an anchor point as some of these businesses try to redevelop," CCRTA Chief Executive Officer Derrick Majchszak said.
It's not what folks in this part of the city typically see, brand new development, but one that was much needed.
"Driving up to see this is impressive," Nueces County commissioner John Marez said at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
In 2023, CCRTA served 3.2 million riders. The Port-Ayers location near the Goodwill is the second busiest station.
Councilwoman Sylvia Campos calls it 'the heart of the community.'
"This is important, we have so many individuals who don't have transportation and this is the only way they can get anywhere," she said. "And the community that uses it deserve these kind of amenities, we have to have shade."
The old Kleberg Bank building was torn down to make room for the expanded transfer station which includes plenty of shade, benches and monitors with bus information.
For local artist Jeremy Flores it hits close to home.
He was brought in to create a sculpture as a center piece for the station. He said it represents a community connected.
"I remember skateboarding in this area when I was a kid to see the old leave, like the old bus station get torn down it was sad, but to see something like this get built, its evolution," Flores said.
Service for the Port-Ayers transfer station officially begins July 1.
