"No city the size of Springfield should be without a resource, and an asset, that can drive a regional economy as this," says State Representative Joseph Wagner.

Tuesday officials from the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, along with state and local leaders, announced the final plans, that will turn Union Station into a state of the art intermodal transportation center.

"If you want to take a PVTA bus to the terminal, then take an Amtrak train to New York City, you'll be able to do that," says PVTA Administrator Mary MacInnes. "That's the key feature of an intermodal facility, is the ability to transfer between the modes."

The 65 million dollar plan includes a 23 bay bus terminal, two level parking garage and the reopening of a tunnel connecting Union Station to the Amtrak terminal on Lyman Street. The project will be funded by a mix of state and federal funding that legislators expect will energize the economy.

"A strong Springfield makes for a stronger Springfield and a stronger regional economy," says Wagner.

PVTA officials say Tuesday's announcement marks the final push to finish a project that was stalled in 2005 when the FBI began an investigation into misused funds. Now that the controversy is behind them, the PVTA says it wants to ensure public confidence, by updating residents every step of the way.

"We want to make sure that people know that every week something is happening with this project, so we're gonna try to do that," says MacInnes.

The next step is the permitting process, and officials estimate the entire project will be complete in 2011.