BETHEL -- Sullivan County broke ground on its new state-of-the art transportation facility Monday, kicking off a project already several years in the making.

In 2001, county officials began soliciting federal and state funds for the $2.7 million, 10,000 square foot, Mobility Management Facility, currently in the earth-moving stages across from the Sullivan County International Airport in the Town of Bethel.

After seven years of fund searching, Congressman Maurice Hinchey secured through the Federal Transportation Authority $2.2 million to help start the project; the other $500,000 is being split between the state and Sullivan County.

The county’s newest project, which will feature a photovoltaic system to supply solar power for the building, will house up to 16 public transit vehicles, and offers a central location for the administrative, dispatch, operations, training, and vehicle inspection needs of the department, something they don’t currently have.

The congressman called the effort a “long-awaited project that will serve the county for many environmentally safe years to come.”

Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis and Planning Committee Chair Jodi Goodman also praised the state-of-the-art facility for its environmental features.