Rides Mass Transit District broke ground Friday morning on the area’s new park-and-ride public transit facility near the grounds of the state regional office and VA Medical Center in Marion.

RMTD CEO Bill Jung says the new park-and-ride will expand the availability and identity of the services rural transit in general and Rides provides for the citizens of the area.

The center will feature covered bus slips for all weather situations, a passenger terminal with a climate-controlled waiting area and a display showing real time passenger and bus information.

The cost of the project is roughly $1.8 million. It’s funding through the State of Illinois and the Delta Regional Authority.

The facility is expected to be finished early next year.