Jul 8, 2013 2 min read

Washington City Council Monday opened bids for an intermodal transit center on East Chestnut Street.

The transportation project aims to provide better access to employment, education, health care and social activities in Washington County and Pittsburgh.

In all, 15 companies submitted proposals for four major contracts: electrical, plumbing, HVAC and general contractor.

The new transit center will include a park-and-ride lot, passenger amenities, a bus pull-in lane and a police substation. The project is being funded through a federal stimulus grant, along with state and local funds.

The bids will be awarded at Thursday’s city council meeting.

In other business, Mayor Brenda Davis announced the city will implement a light-up night on the first Friday of every month, beginning in August, in an effort to deter crime as part of the city’s Stop the Violence Movement. City businesses and homeowners are encouraged to turn on their lights at night.

“It’s a way of helping promote the Neighborhood Watch programs and other community watch programs. There have been senseless crimes in the area, and senseless violence is taking our residents here and outside the city of Washington,” said Davis. “We want to encourage people to be more aware of their surroundings and to communicate with the police department. We’re trying to be a little bit more proactive.”