Williamsport opens transportation center

Downtown Williamsport has taken on a new look.

After years of planning, $18 million worth of improvements are now being used. They include the Trade and Transit Centre and a 500-stall parking deck, both in the area of West Third and Pine streets. The dedication of both was in December but both

The project was undertaken with a goal of spurring economic development in center city. "A lot of attention was paid to detail," says William E. Nichols Jr., manager of the Bureau of Transportation who has supervised the various construction projects.

The Trade and Transit Centre, named for former U.S. Rep. Joseph M. McDade, RScranton, who obtained federal money for its construction, sits on the site of the former landmark L.L. Stearns & Sons department store.

The three-story, 34,000-square-foot building includes a waiting area for city bus passengers, the offices of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and the new home of the Community Theatre League.

A small restaurant features memorabilia from the former department store and a small plaza north of the building carries the Stearns name. Across West Third Street from the Trade and Transit Centre is the new parking deck that features both transient and monthly parking. Studies showed a major need for more parking in the downtown.

The other major change in the area is the opening of Pine Street, a former pedestrian mall between West Third and West Fourth streets. New, brighter street lights line the street which is accented with trees and bricks.

"If we're not able to compete now for retail, we never will be," says Mayor Steven W. Cappelli. "I'd be very surprised if over the next 10 months we don't see significant interest in the downtown."

The improvements "send a very visible signal to the community that downtown revitalization is under way," says Kathleen A. Steinbacher, chamber president. Add to these the Hampton Inn, Perkins restaurant and the chamber's visitor's center, which opened last year, there has been a major transformation of downtown, she says.

The new parking deck was a factor in Keystone Financial Bank moving its regional executive offices to West Third and Pine streets, says Ray Thompson, chairman of the Williamsport Parking Authority.