Another component of "Impact Warren" is ready to roll.

The Transit Authority of Warren County on Tuesday began advertising for bids to convert a portion of the former Loranger Manufacturing building on Clark St. into a new transit center.

TAWC is accepting bids for architectural and engineering services required for the design and rehabilitation of the existing building on the eastern end of the former Loranger property.

In addition to designing the new transit center, the firm which receives the contract with TAWC will be responsible for overseeing the bidding process as well as construction.

A conference for prospective bidders for the transit center project has been scheduled for Feb. 1 and proposals for architectural and engineering services will be received until Feb. 17.

The current home of the transit authority in Starbrick contains about 10,000 square feet. The Loranger building, once converted, would provide the authority with more than 18,500 square feet.

In a project description included in the authority's 2002- 2003 budget package, a facilities committee said a new transit center in Warren could not only house the authority's 16 vehicles, but include offices, a waiting area, maintenance area and a place to temporarily house charter buses which come into the Warren area. A transit center could also be an asset in attempting to attract regular commercial bus service to the Warren area.

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum secured $1.5 million in federal funds for the center and coupled with PennDOT money the transit authority has saved and earmarked for new facilities in recent
years, TAWC now has enough funding for the $2.2million transit center.

The current TAWC facility in Starbrick is cramped and landlocked by topography. Estimates for renovating and expanding the Starbrick facility range from $600,000 to $800,000.

While the new center will deal with local public transportation, it will also cater to out-of-area buses coming into the Warren area and the passengers.