Organizers of a new public transit system are moving forward even though necessary state approval for several projects is still lagging.

With the official kickoff of the downtown Orangeburg bus routes just more than a week away, Orangeburg County officials have begun preliminary work needed to demolish the old nurse's dormitory on Carolina Avenue.

Orangeburg County Deputy Administrator for Community Development Harold Young says the county is donating the property for use as a transit hub.

"Right now we're doing a required environmental survey for any asbestos or lead-based paint in the structure," Young said. "We have to submit paperwork to the state for clearance before we can demolish it.

"Hopefully we can have the demolition done no later than summer 2010, although I certainly hope it can be concluded sooner," he said.

Young said the county is picking up the tab although the full cost can't be calculated until demolition is complete. The final tonnage amount, minus the removal of environmentally unsafe materials in the building, will determine the cost.

Lower Savannah Council of Governments Assistant Executive Director Connie Shade says her organization will oversee construction of a transit facility at the site. The funding comes from $3.5 million in federal stimulus money routed through the S.C. Department of Transportation.

"We are waiting on a contract from the state Department of Transportation to construct the facility," Shade said. "I was told by phone Thursday the project has been given approval but nothing in writing yet.

"Once a contract has been signed with DOT, the bidding process to determine a contractor will begin," she said. "It will go through the normal procurement process."

Shade could not say when a contract might be completed but she noted the funds for the two-year grant are in the pipeline waiting for release.

Young says the county is printing Cross County Connection logo signs. The cost for printing and sign installation by county work crews is approximately $3,500. Young says that is part of Orangeburg County's involvement with the system's startup.

Shade said signs left over from the defunct Metro Transit in downtown Orangeburg will be also be refaced with the new logo.

"We looked at where those old transit locations were," Shade said. "We made some modifications to them when the final downtown routes were being determined but they are good and still workable.

"We hope to build some bus stop shelters downtown during the next phase of the project," she said. "We'll know better how many we need and where they will go after the system is in service for awhile. The cost to build them is in the original budget."

The kickoff for the Cross County Connection bus service, provided by the Santee Wateree Regional Transit Authority, is 11 a.m., Sept. 16, at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds. A similar event is scheduled the same day starting at 4 p.m. at 2831 Old Belleville Road in St. Matthews.

Shade said door prizes will be given away to those attending the kickoffs. The grand prize at both locations is an 18-inch flat screen television. There will also be refreshments and information about Cross County Connection.

Shade says support from officials in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties is crucial to the new service's success.

"I can't say enough about the commitment from the counties, financially and in-kind," Shade said. "We have complete access to county staff and planning departments.

"This has been a true effort of county government and I couldn't be happier."

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T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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