Project Overview

South Bend Public Transporation Corporation (Transpo) and previous public transit operators in South Bend, Indiana, had been using the same administrative and maintenance facility since the 1880s.  In about 2005, Transpo began planning for the construction of a new facility as the old building was inadequate to accommodate operations due to increasing transit service.  In October 2010, Transpo opened the new Emil "Lucky" Reznik Operations, Administration and Maintenance Facility at 1401 South Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend. The location is in the city’s industrial core at the site of the former Studebaker manufacturing plant.   The new facility will allow Transpo to improve fleet maintenance and accommodate alternatively fueled buses. 

More than $15 million in funds obligated by FTA were used for the construction and design of the project.  The new facility is the first transit building in the country to receive Platinum certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).  Components of the certification included the use of recycled materials and products from within a 500 mile radius of the site.  The building uses geothermal energy and solar panels for heating and cooling to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.  The facility is physically closer to the main Transpo transfer center which reduces fuel usage, improves operating efficiencies, and will lead to service improvements.