Gainesville to break ground on new RTS Eastside Transfer Station

Gainesville to break ground on new RTS Eastside Transfer Station

Published on October 20, 2026

City of Gainesville officials invite area neighbors to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Regional Transit System (RTS) Eastside Transfer Station. Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker and Interim City Manager Andrew Persons are scheduled to deliver remarks, along with representatives from the University of Florida, Santa Fe College and the Florida Department of Transportation.

When: 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23

Where: 614 SE 20th St.

The city's new transfer station will feature three covered canopies that can accommodate six buses, in addition to a 5,210-square-foot facility with a public community room and a staff training room. Scheduled for completion in late 2027, the project is funded by a $4.5 million competitive grant awarded to the city by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2021 and an additional $1 million FTA formula grant.

The RTS Eastside Transfer Station will be built at the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative (EHEDI) site off Hawthorne Road. The station will serve as a major connection point for bus routes between east and west Gainesville and reflects the city's commitment to public transit and economic development.

The facility will be the city's third bus station and newest since the Butler Plaza Transfer Station opened in 2016. The Rosa Parks Transfer Station opened downtown in 2007.

The event is free and open to the public and also will showcase RTS programs and services.

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