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http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news...er_planned_for.html?p1=HP_Well_YourTown_links
The MBTA has begun the process of building an 8,400-square-foot transportation center at the Hingham Shipyard that would be used to connect the commuter boat services, the commuter train line, and the bus line.
Although the project is still in its beginning stages, many aspects of the proposal have been laid out.
According to a form submitted by the MBTA to the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the $4.5 million multilevel building would include a public waiting area, a terminal for the MBTA commuter boat and MBTA Bus, a ticket office, and rest rooms.
The building would also include office space for Department of Conservation and Recreation staff and the Massachusetts Environmental Police, currently located in another building at the shipyard property.
It is a project that has been in the works for a few months, said Hingham Selectman Bruce Rabuffo.
?They?re trying to develop a comprehensive plan for bus, boat and train?and connect those so that if you live in Hull and take the 7:14 bus, there is a quick way to get to the shipyard and hop on a boat, or a train. That?s kind of where they?re headed,? he said.
According to Rabuffo, the center has been a part of the plan to reconfigure the shipyard, and the final proposal looks promising.
The MBTA is hoping to use Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) features as a part of the new building, the document said. An energy-saving roof and ?closed-loop geothermal heat exchange system? will help supplement heating and cooling costs.
The 99-year lease from the DCR would encompass just three acres of the property, but even then, the MBTA feels it is vital to the development of the shipyard.
?The lntermodal Center is a component of an overall initiative to revitalize the Hingham Shipyard into a well planned mixed-used development that is currently under construction,? reads a description of the project. ?The development consists of a variety of retail, service, residential, marina, and office uses. The lntermodal Center is an important feature of the redevelopment project.?
The plan would require no new parking, as the MBTA currently has more than 1,800 parking spaces across the street. Moreover, the entire project would be funded without the town?s help.
According to the form, the Federal Transit Administration would fund 80 percent of the project. The MBTA would fund 20 percent.
The MBTA hopes to have bids for the project completed within the next six months, with construction taking place the 13 months following. The project is to be completed by 2012.