VanGo Expansion

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) -      A southern Indiana county celebrates an expansion of its public transportation facilities.

     Officials in Knox County parlayed grants from both state and federal sources into a $500,000 improvement project.

     The expansion is expected to help the VanGo system run smoother and help them get more people to work.

     VanGo officials and community leaders gathered outside of their newly expanded office and garage facilities to cut the ribbon and open it.

     The project has been in the works for a long time, and organizers are thrilled to be in the finished project.

     "To see this today, built here, moved in, running efficiently what can I say this is just a wonderful, wonderful moment," said VanGo Director Nola Davis.

     The addition is more than office space.

     It includes a badly needed dedicated dispatch area, more parking, a new fueling station and a new bay big enough to hold 4 buses.

     "They're better able to handle the different vehicles and it's a great improvement," said Knox County Commissioner Rowe Sargent.

     While the focus of this celebration may have been the additional 35,000 square feet added to the facility, officials say they have a lot more going on with VanGo.

  For instance they are adding busses and it's all coming at a time when they expect an even greater need for public transportation.

     "We've been working closely with Work One," said Davis.  "We know Farbest Foods is coming to town.  We've been meeting with people working on that project about people needing rides for employment."

     Available transportation is expected to be a key element in that growth and now that VanGo has its facilities in place it appears it can be a part of a bigger picture of economic development in this community.

     VanGo currently has 19 vehicles in its fleet, and has secured funding to add at least 4 more over the next several months.