The opportunity?
For 35 years, the Valley Transit building in downtown Appleton has been the community’s bus transit hub. However, the building’s design has outlived its usefulness, and reconstruction is needed to ensure the center will better serve the transit system and the community’s transportation needs for the coming decades.
What is the “fix,” and how does it benefit the community?
The building’s reconstruction will include 14 bays, ground-floor indoor and covered outdoor waiting areas, public restrooms, secure bike storage, vending machines, a ticketing office, an Appleton Police Department substation, and in a future phase of the project, affordable housing above the new transit center. The updated center will have expanded passenger amenities and transit facilities, improving operations.
Benefits for the community include:
- Enhanced public transportation services and safety
- Increased transportation accessibility
- Economic growth and development in the downtown area
The project is a significant investment in Appleton’s infrastructure and future development.
What makes the investment possible?
The projected cost of the project is $26.8 million. $25 million in federal funding has been designated from the federal infrastructure law Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, and the city of Appleton has committed $1.8 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.
What’s next?
The City of Appleton is finalizing plans for the renovation and expansion. Construction will begin in mid-2026 and be completed in 2028.
Rendering of the new Valley Transit Center with affordable housing. Housing will be part of a later phase involving a public-private partnership.
