BCRTA opens new station in Oxford

A new station for the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) is officially open on Chestnut Street following a ceremony hosted on Thursday, Nov. 6.

The Chestnut Street Station has a variety of features, including indoor and outdoor passenger waiting areas, accessible public restrooms, bike storage, real-time transit information, passenger kiosks and a customer service area. 

The station also features covered bus transfer areas, a community meeting space and bus maintenance facilities for fueling and washing. Indoor storage areas at the station have capacity for 36 buses.

The station has accommodations for any future battery-electric or hydrogen fueling, as well as solar energy capture. 

According to the BCRTA website, the station will have shared access and amenities with an Amtrak stop for which construction might begin in 2026.

The BCRTA project cost $23,692,150 and was supported by a mix of federal, state and local funds, according to the website.

The United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration was a large financier of the station, according to the website, and  Miami University is contributing a 40-year land lease and $1.6 million. BCRTA provided more than $3 million in local revenue. 

Bus services will be free. Routes and real-time bus tracking, delay information, available routes and route planning for individual passengers are accessible via the BCRTA BGo app. 

Chris Lawson, president of the Butler County Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees, spoke during the ceremony about the effect the new station has already had on the Oxford community. 

“This is a $27 million investment in Butler County,” he said. “That is $27 million that has created construction jobs, supporting local businesses to build something permanent and meaningful for our region.”

“This is infrastructure investment that will serve us for the next 50 years,” Lawson said.

Mayor Bill Snavely spoke about what having access to a facility like the Chestnut Street Station meant to him.

“It’s about freedom,” he said. “Regardless of income, freedom to work, to get healthcare, to get education – it’s a shot at making community connections.”

Snavely said the new station helps check off some of the Oxford City Council’s major goals, including sustainability and economic development. 

“Oxford is very proud to be the host of this transportation hub,” Snavely said.