Syracuse Center of Excellence holds design symposium on planned Intermodal Transportation Facility

Syracuse Center of Excellence holds design symposium on planned Intermodal Transportation FacilityJune 19, 2006Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Sen. Charles Schumer and Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor today kicked off a design symposium for the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems’ (Syracuse CoE) planned Intermodal Transportation Facility.

Schumer and Sen. Hillary Clinton have secured a total of $8 million in federal funding for initiatives related to the Connective Corridor project: $4 million of which is to be used for the design and construction of the intermodal facility, which will be built adjacent to the headquarters building at 727 E. Washington St., and $4 million for capital improvements along the Connective Corridor.

Schumer and Cantor joined Edward Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse CoE, in welcoming local elected, nonprofit and community organization leaders, business leaders, architects and Syracuse CoE partners in a ceremony opening the symposium at the Marx Hotel.

The symposium is designed to garner information and ideas from community stakeholders that will help further refine concepts and design features for the facility. Mark Lichtenstein, director of the Environmental Finance Center at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, facilitated the discussion.

The goal of the symposium is to help in creating a shared, community-wide vision that will make the new facility both innovative and unique and reflect the goals and mission of the new Syracuse CoE headquarters facility. The public is encouraged to share their comments at http://www.syracusecoe.org.

The facility will provide public access and parking for other proposed area developments and the Connective Corridor, and include additional amenities for those traveling to and from downtown homes and business and institutions on the University Hill. Syracuse University is in the process of fulfilling all state and federal requirements necessary to begin the design process by the end of 2006.

“This sweeping project and the Center of Excellence will be the centerpiece of the University’s transportation system and Central New York development for years to come,” Schumer says. “The Connective Corridor will be the tie that binds SU and downtown together and will be a major artery bringing new life and activity to all of Syracuse. Today we are kick starting another major step in the process to make this vision a reality.”

“Today we are launching the design of a new intermodal transportation center that will be truly reflective of the state-of-the-art, world class research and development facility that is our Center of Excellence. It will serve as portal for our students, faculty, business partners and visitors who will travel to the Center of Excellence on a daily basis,” says Cantor. “Just as important, we envision that the facility will be a real-life test bed and exhibition for the new technologies and sustainable practices in urban ecosystems that our Center of Excellence is developing.”

Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse CoE, says “We very greatly appreciate the efforts of Senators Schumer and Clinton to secure funding that will enable the Syracuse CoE to design and construct an intermodal facility on or headquarters campus. We envision a facility that will help us engage our partners and the public in creating innovations that fuel economic vitality throughout the region.”

“As evidenced by the great community interest that has been expressed about the Intermodal Transportation Facility, it is expected to have a substantial positive impact on our region,” says Lichtenstein. “This forum represented a great opportunity for individuals to share their ideas and wishes with SU during the early stages of development of this important facility.”