Freedom Transit bus development moves ahead after approval
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Freedom Transit has crossed the final hurdle to building its new bus facility in South Strabane Township.
The township’s board of supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve final land development for the operations facility at 375 Berry Road. Supervisors Jeff Bull and George Rowand dissented.
Bull said he has an issue with that property being used by a tax-exempt organization.
“The reason I voted against it, it’s taking some of the last, best, prime commercial property in South Strabane Township, and it’s going to become a nonprofit. So it won’t pay any taxes,” Bull said.
Sheila Gombita, Freedom Transit’s executive director, said it will be a while before the project is completed.
“We’re looking, hopefully, to do ground breaking in late October,” Gombita said. “It will be the fall of 2027 before we’re ready to move in.”
The supervisors had previously tabled approval for land development after running into issues with sewerage. According to Gombita, Freedom Transit had to develop a plan to install holding tanks on the property.
“Because of capacity issues with the sewage plants, we are not able, at least initially, to tap into the sewage,” Gombita said.
The facility will be built at the former site of Tower Golf and Amish Touch. Freedom Transit purchased the property in October 2022 for $3.2 million.
The 80,000-square-foot structure will include a bus wash, maintenance bays, indoor storage and a training room for dispatch and operations staff. Freedom Transit’s administrative offices will remain in Washington.
Gombita said that development and future operations will not be impacted by flooding damage to Berry Road, which has shut down the roadway between Old Mill Boulevard and Manifold Road for at least the next two months.
“We had no intentions of using that portion of Berry Road,” Gombita said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, township Manager Jeff Ziegler announced that he had submitted notice that he will be leaving the position in about two months.
Ziegler said he accepted a similar role closer to his home in Beaver County. Bob Weber, chair of the board of supervisors, said Ziegler would remain township manager for 60 days while the township searches for a replacement.
The township hired Ziegler in August 2023.
“I just want to thank the board and the public for being so welcoming to me over the last few years. It has been a privilege and honor to serve as your township manager,” Ziegler said.