Audubon Area Community Services on Tuesday celebrated the completion of an expansion to their Green River Intra-Transit System (GRITS) Transit Administrative Facility. Officials said the expansion is designed to better accommodate the organization’s growing needs.
The expansion includes a new single-story section spanning 4,790 square feet. It features nine offices, two restrooms, a conference room, and a training room capable of hosting up to 78 individuals.
Dan Lanham, Transportation Director of Audubon Area Community Services, said the original facility was built with future expansion in mind and had become increasingly inadequate due to substantial growth.
Lanham noted that the organization has grown from four vehicles and about 40 employees to 115 vehicles and about 120 employees.
Lanham said the previous setup of the facility, with only one restroom shared by approximately 20 office staff members and 80 drivers, was no longer functional. Additionally, the previous training room had to be repurposed to provide additional office space for the growing management staff.
The expansion project was executed in phases. Phase one involved the construction of the new addition, requiring staff to relocate temporarily before moving into the expanded space. Renovation of the original facility ensued, including enlarging the call center, creating a dedicated workspace for drivers, and significantly expanding the breakroom to accommodate the increased number of employees.
“The successful completion of this project is a testament to the incredible patience and cooperation of our office staff, drivers, and contractors,” Lanham said. “We are thrilled to officially open this new chapter in our facility’s history, which will enhance our operational efficiency and provide a better working environment for everyone involved.”
Dr. Yvette Taylor, Federal Transportation Administration Region 4 Regional Manager, attended the event. She said the FTA invested $400,000 to go toward construction, adding that it’s really an investment in the people.
“I could not be more proud to be here today to celebrate your beautiful, expanded facility,” she said. “We celebrate the benefits that this will bring to your own community. We know it will help better connect the communities. It will help get them to their jobs, to the schools, wherever they need to go. Regardless if you have a car or not, you have a system here that works for your community, and that’s what’s important. That helps to promote equity. It helps to give people more opportunity to touch more parts of their own community. So we’re grateful for your commitment to transit.”
Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake, Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson, and Daviess County Commissioner Chris Castlen all also gave brief marks. They largely acknowledge the project couldn’t have been completed without cooperation among officials at the local, state, and federal levels.
