New transit facility planned for East Hills Library lot space
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- An underutilized parking lot next to East Hills Library is set to become a new-and-improved hub for transit riders and drivers.
Plans are in motion to develop a new multi-million dollar bus transfer station on a 2.5-acre parking lot space adjacent to the East Hills Library.
"It will be a nice new facility for people to get on and off the bus and access the library and the mall," St. Joseph Deputy Director of Transportation Chance Gallagher said. "It'll be a lot easier and it'll be more centralized as well."
Gallagher said the new transfer station will allow them to accommodate 17 buses as opposed to seven at Hy-Vee, in addition to a wide range of system improvements, including faster wait times, less traffic congestion and a more efficient Belt Highway loop.
Buses will access the facility via the Woodbine entrance, while will have to be widened and upgraded to accommodate an increase in vehicles.
"We're going to make some upgrades to the sidewalk and make sure this is easily accessible, and then maintain the entryway and make sure our buses aren't in the way," Gallagher said. "Hopefully we're going to also improve the parking lot and the facilities around here as well."
St. Joseph resident Ed Baker takes the bus every day and was highly complimentary of the transit system's affordability and efficiency, particularly its new Travel Ambassador Program which provides instruction and guidance to new riders.
"I've seen a lot more people in the last year using it, older people mostly," Baker said. "A lot of people have been really pleased."
Baker was excited to hear about plans for the new facility. He hopes the facility will include a machine that allows for dollar to coin exchanges.
"I'm really pleased about that. Because right now there' places I can't get to. But when they start getting more buses here, hopefully that'll change," he said.
The city views the project as a strategic investment to help accommodate the current and future needs of the transit system, which has experienced year-over-year growth in ridership and paid passengers over the last three years.
Paid passengers jumped from 240,794 in 2023 to 267,976 in 2025, while the number of trips also increased from 299,677 to 325,460.
"It's about a 14.1% increase. So it's moving along and we're up to almost full staff, which is great for our bus drivers. So that helps with being able to continue having all of our routes functioning," she said.
St. Joseph City Councilmembers will vote on a $798,725 real estate sales contract with East Hills Properties, LLC, on Tuesday, May 27, to potentially acquire the land for development.
The station will also provide a true designated break area and restrooms for bus drivers who currently have to cross the road to use Hy-Vee Gas.
"We put money in next year's budget, so July 1 I hope to start putting bids together and get it going," Gallagher "We're in the beginning design phases, and then once I get an engineer's (cost) estimate, we'll go out."
