On Monday, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan joined with Wilmington, N.C. officials to celebrate the grand opening of Wave Transit’s new Forden station. The FTA provided 70 percent of the funding for the $5.3 million project, including $600,000 in Recovery Act funds.

“The addition of the new Forden station is good news for commuters in Wilmington coping with $4-a-gallon gas,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Even more residents will now have access to a cleaner, more comfortable and more affordable way to get to work, school or other destinations around the city. Public transit is about choice, and I’m proud that our partnership with the city of Wilmington is helping to provide expanded opportunities for area residents.”

The 9,000-square-foot indoor transfer facility, named after former Wilmington Transit Authority Chair and civil rights leader Harry Forden, is located on Cando Street at the center of Wave Transit’s service area. The new facility, which replaces the transit agency's longtime headquarters on Castle Street, will serve approximately 1.5 million riders a year.

“North Carolina continues to realize the benefits of the Recovery Act,” McMillan said. “This facility in this location is exactly what smart urban planning is all about. It’s about offering good public transportation choices that go hand-in-hand with revitalizing the local economy, creating jobs and bringing new economic opportunity into the downtown area.”

The building, which is designed to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, also houses offices for the administrative staff. It will also provide Wilmington transit riders with real-time information on bus arrivals and departures. It will feature energy-saving geothermal heating and cooling units and LED lighting.