The new Blanco ISD Maintenance and Transportation facility is nearing completion.

The project, financed by funds generated by last May’s successful bond election, is a significant upgrade over the district’s prior operations.

“It’s good,” said transportation director John Moore. “It’s needed.”

Improvements made at the site, located at 11th and Elm, include a 4,275 square foot maintenance and transportation building, an expanded vehicle station area, and accompanying security fencing. In addition, plans are to provide upgraded covered parking for the district’s non-bus vehicles.

“The new building looks finished from the outside,” said maintenance director Tony Petri. “It’s dried in. All that’s left is to put some downspouts on the outside. Inside, we’re constructing a chemical/custodial supply room, a rest room, and putting up interior walls..”

Petri is proud that all these improvements were accomplished without losing one tree. “The trees add to the facility,” said Petri. “It’s nice.”

The completion of the new building is timely. Construction at the historical building is scheduled to begin within a month, and once that begins, John Moore’s prior transportation area will no longer exist.

“That area on to the west of the historical building was my bus barn,” said Moore, referring to the area that can best be described as a make-shift “lean-to.”

“It’s going to be more convenient having this new building, because I’ll be right there by the buses. A whole lot of time will be saved; I won’t have do as much walking.”

“If something goes wrong, I’ll have everything right there. It’s going to be handy really.”

Petri and his crew have already salvaged the metal from Moore’s old “lean-to,” and also the metal from the roof of the old administration building located on 13th Street. Plans are for this metal to be used to provide covered parking for the district’s non-bus vehicles.

“We’re right on schedule,” said Petri. “We’re good.”