The new transit center planned for Impact Warren cleared a major hurdle Friday with a congressional committee's inclusion of $3 million for it in a major transportation bill.

U.S. Rep. Phil English announced that House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young has approved the money for the Impact Warren Multimodal Transit Center.

"This is a huge leap forward for the City of Warren and surrounding region," English said. The project will improve services for local commuters and "help the economic development effort for downtown Warren," he said.

A legislative assistant in English's Washington office said the substance of the Transportation and Equity Act has already been approved in both the House and the Senate and awaits only a further conference hearing before both houses approve the funding.

"This is not expected to be a controversial bill," she said and anticipated no problems with its passage. The next and final step toward securing the federal funds will occur in the joint House-Senate Conference Committee.

The Transit Authority of Warren County (TAWC) is seeking to locate and construct a new county-wide intermodal transportation facility at Breeze Point Landing on Warren's downtown Allegheny River waterfront. As a major component of Impact Warren, which promises to revitalize the downtown and stimulate the local economy, it will also include bike paths and road reconstruction, creating an attractive destination for visitors and residents.

The current TAWC headquarters is located on Rt. 6 in Starbrick which is not accessible to pedestrians and routine bicyclists. Impact Warren is a $40 million undertaking now under initial construction that seeks to blend healthy economic development, community development and affordable housing.