New Garages in Person, Cabarrus and Craven
By Eric Locklear, George Douglas and Becton Broughton
Person County
In September 2008, Person County Schools opened the doors to the new transportation services building. The new facility was the result of over ten years of discussion and planning on the part of the school board, school officials and county commissioners. The previous bus garage was constructed in the early 1940’s and could not be modified to meet the needs of the transportation services. For a fleet of over seventy buses, the old facility only had one bay that we could use to serve a 66 passenger or higher bus. Additional issues such as parking for buses during the summer months, lack of parts space and a lack of a fuel island aided in the discussion to do something quickly.
After much debate, the decision to build was made and construction began in November, 2007. The site covers over 11 acres and the facility is over 13,000 square feet. The facility has several offices, a large conference room, record storage room, meeting areas, and very large parts room.
Break/Classroom
On the far end there is a tire room, general storage room, and wash bay. There is a new above ground 10 thousand gallon diesel tank and covered fuel island. The 11 acres provide ample space for parking school buses during the summer months. The best feature is the bay area. The bays are drive thru and over 60 feet long with plenty of over head clearance.
Additional money was added to allow us to upgrade several pieces of equipment, to include the addition of a new column lift system. The bays allow us to service up to four buses at once, and with the lift system we can raise a bus and then place it on stands and move the lifts to one of the other three bays. The facility is also fully equipped with alarms, motion sensors, a camera system on the external part of the building, and a key pad control for the gate. The total cost of the facility was approximately 2.8 million.
The transportation staff is extremely blessed to be about to work in such a nice facility. We are eternally grateful to the Person County school board and county commissioners for working to provide a facility that we will use to better serve the students of Person County Schools.
Cabarrus County
The old garage was less than half as large
In July 2009, Cabarrus County Schools will open the doors to the new transportation services building. The new facility was the result of over ten years of discussion and planning on the part of the school board, school officials and county commissioners. The previous bus garage was constructed in the early 1940’s and could not be modified to meet the needs of the transportation services. For a fleet of over two hundred & seventy buses, the old facility only had five bays to serve a 66 passenger or higher buses. Additional issues such as parking for buses during the summer months, lack of parts space and a lack of a energy efficient facilities.
60' drive thru bays
After much debate, the decision to build was made and construction began in November, 2008. The site covers over 21 acres and the facility is over 48,000 square feet. The facility has added space for offices, a large training room, record storage room, meeting areas, and very large parts room. On the far end there is a tire room, general storage room, and wash bay.
The additional acres provide ample space for parking school buses for a more centralized dispatch area and added storage during the summer months. The best feature is the bay area. The bays are drive thru and over 60 feet long with plenty of over head clearance. Additional money was added to allow us to upgrade several pieces of equipment, to include the addition of a new column lift system and two portable lift systems (Koni). The bays allow us to service up to 12 buses at once, and with the lift system we can raise a bus and then place it on stands and move the lifts to one of the other three bays. The facility is also fully equipped with alarms, motion sensors, a camera system on the external part of the building, and a key pad control for the gate. The total cost of the facility is approximately $8,000,000 and is scheduled to open for business late summer 2009.
Large office area
Craven County
After an on-site visit in the Spring of 2007 by the Craven County Commissions and Board of Education, the funding for a new bus maintenance facility was endorsed. Our entire staff worked very closely with the architectural firm of Hite Associates in the design of our new facility specific to the needs of a school transportation department. Construction work began in September 2007 and was ready for occupancy ten months later, in June 2008.
Shiny & new with plenty of space
Our garage staff continued to work on an almost daily basis with general contractor, Farrior & Sons, Inc., in customizing our new facility for school bus maintenance operations.
Two days after the end of school, June 12, 2008, “moving day” was celebrated by moving from a 1950’s bus garage to the new bus maintenance facility.
Circa 1950's
The state-of-the-art facility includes administrative offices, nine work bays that contain almost three times the space of the old work bay area, and a one thousand square feet for a training room.
The expanded garage area provides technicians with flexibility in scheduling repairs and routine maintenance on our fleet of more than 149 school buses, 15 spare buses, 31 activity buses and 30 local vehicles.
well lit bays
The previous garage could only accommodate three buses at a time, whereas the new facility has work bays for up to nine buses with additional areas for a wash bay and tire changing station. The fully air conditioned garage area has an updated exhaust system and safety equipment. The expanded work bay area with wireless internet connectivity provides a safer and more productive work environment.
Extra space!
The training room with wireless internet connectivity will accommodate up to fifty participants.
It is currently being used by Child Nutrition for monthly meetings and NC PTA District 9 director meetings. Bus driver instructional sessions, staff development activities and regional training sessions have already utilized the new training room.
An expanded parts area now allows for better organization and storage of parts. All parts storage is under one roof, which allows for better inventory control procedures.
well designed parts room
Another major benefit of the new facility is the close proximity of all office staff (director, supervisor, TIMS, cost and parts clerk), which provides for effective communication and coordination of administrative tasks.
covered bulk fueling area
Our new transportation facility greatly enhances the capability of Transportation Services personnel to provide safe school bus transportation and excellent customer service to Craven County.
Old Garage New Facility
Total Area 7,400 sq. ft. 19,200 sq. ft.
Garage (# work bays) 3 totaling 3,300 sq. ft. 9 totaling 9,200 sq. ft.
Parts Storage 1950 sq. ft. 3,000 sq. ft.
Training Room 420 sq. ft. 1,000 sq. ft.
Administrative Offices 950 sq. ft. 1,000 sq. ft.
Cost of Craven County School Bus Facility
General Contractor cost $2,777,300.00
Architect fee 178,697.00
Misc. equipment, materials, supplies 30,000.00
TOTAL $2,985,997.00