Like an express bus route, progress on a new transit center atop Sutter Hill is moving swiftly with few stops.

The Amador Regional Transit System, commonly referred to as ARTS, has been serving the community since 1977. From modest beginnings of only three vans, ARTS now operates a fleet of 12 buses providing service to the county, including weekday runs into downtown Sacramento. Located on Airport Road, the current operations facility has been in use around 12 years and has outgrown its adequacy. In March 2005, Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) introduced a transportation funding bill, of which $1.5 million was earmarked for Amador County. Two-thirds of that money was dedicated to replacing the outgrown transit center and the other half-million was dedicated for a Pine Grove corridor project on Highway 88. By February 2007, funding solidified enough to proceed with contracting the necessary architectural and engineering services. On Wednesday, during the Amador County Transportation Commission meeting, project manager Matt Boyer, a consultant from Dokken Engineering in Folsom, provided the commission with a progress report.

"A year ago today in this meeting, the discussion was if there was going to be enough money to cover construction for Phase 1," he said. "Now it looks like we'll have enough to build out entirely. In fact, you probably won't hear me even talk about phases anymore."

"Ahead of schedule and under budget - just the words I want to hear when it comes to a project like this," quipped commission Chairman Louis Boitano, the District 4 county supervisor.

Significant time was spent on a presentation justifying the approval of a contract amendment increasing the expense and scope of the new transit center on Sutter Hill. Boyer shared that a new bus storage facility, 12 parking spaces and detention basin were looking to be on schedule. Due to a team effort and the frugal bidding of awardee Wolin & Sons Construction, additional project grading and design work could also be completed before schedule.

Boyer submitted a request to expand the revised contracted scope of work, including the sub-contracting with CTA Engineering & Surveying for office building plans, work on the additional parking areas not previously scheduled until January, and proceeding with onsite maintenance and security planning. All requests were within the original budget estimates.

Boyer's final request of the night was for a written resolution commending his team members. "I've never seen a team of professionals who went over and above their own job duties as this team of contractors, engineers and Caltrans employees have done to create this reality," he said. "They deserve commendation."

Boyer said the new $4 million facility could commence full construction as soon as next spring with possible completion before 2010.