Community weighs in on proposed Imperial County transit hub expansion

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - The Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) is moving forward with plans to build a new, modern transit hub in El Centro.

County officials hosted a public forum at the El Centro Library to gather community feedback on the proposed Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) Administration, Operations & Maintenance Facility.

The project, coordinated alongside the City of El Centro and the Federal Transit Administration, marks a critical step in the environmental review and planning process.

Since its inception in 1989, Imperial Valley Transit has experienced massive regional growth. The network began with just five routes serving roughly 3,000 monthly riders. As of now, it operates 13 routes carrying more than 55,000 passengers every month.

To sustain that growth, the proposed central hub will be located at 2204-2208 La Brucherie Road in El Centro. The modern complex is designed to replace the current, outdated facility and will serve as the central heart for administrative functions, fleet maintenance, and future green transit initiatives.

"We want to make our services effective and meaningful for the public," said David Aguirre, Executive Director of the ICTC. "That is our goal at the end of the day, so we're gonna work very, very hard to try to accomplish that. Hopefully, in the near future, you're gonna see a lot of improvements to all of our public transit infrastructure."

The project aligns with the City of El Centro's Vision 2050 Strategic Plan, the ICTC's Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan, and California's mandate to transition to a 100 percent zero-emission transit fleet by 2040.

Key features planned for the La Brucherie Road site include:

• A brand-new administration and operations building
• An upgraded vehicle maintenance facility with expanded bays
• Dedicated fleet parking, fueling, and bus wash facilities
• On-site solar energy generation
• Clean infrastructure to charge and support future zero-emission vehicles
• Roadway and utility improvements to the surrounding neighborhood

Regional planners emphasize that these upgrades will directly benefit the local population.

"There's definitely a lot of community support and it's definitely clear that the transit-dependent population here in Imperial County is greatly going to benefit from a project like this," said Virginia Mendoza, Transportation Planner for Caltrans District 11.

However, local senior advocacy groups who attended the forum brought up immediate safety hurdles. While representatives from the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging are highly supportive of the new, eco-friendly central facility, they stressed that ordinary roadside bus stops remain hazardous for elderly commuters.

"We care for the health and safety needs of our elderly population, and we just don't want them to be forgotten, especially in a situation like this, a project like this," said AJ Gaddis, Transportation Commission Chair for the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging.

John Hernandez, a local senior citizen and council member for the Agency on Aging, urged decision-makers to prioritize temperature-controlled infrastructure out on the streets.

"If you want to improve ridership and access for older people, then we have to really think about making it user-friendly," Hernandez said. "I have noticed throughout Imperial County bus stops that perhaps need shaded areas...perhaps need to be built with materials that aren’t as hot."

Public feedback remains a major driving force for the project. ICTC officials confirmed that they have successfully narrowed down the construction blueprints to two distinct design options, and they are actively using community commentary to select the best path forward.

"Right now is really where we're focusing on trying to engage the public about the project," Aguirre added. "If there's any comments you have or you want to share any insights that you may have seen somewhere else, you're more than welcome, we'll take that in."

The project is currently lingering in its Environmental and Conceptual Design phase. Funding is expected to be pulled from a combination of local, state, and federal sources, with construction officially slated to begin in 2029.

Community members looking to review the current design options or submit planning feedback can find comprehensive resources here.