• The North Clinton entrance of the Mortimer Street transit center, which should open in 2015.

Construction on Rochester’s new, $50 million transit station begins on Monday, October 8, said Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority officials at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

“We’re thrilled to finally get started,” said RGRTA’s Jim Redmond.

The enclosed, one-story facility will be located on Mortimer Street, spanning the block between South Clinton Avenue and St. Paul Street, and will include 26 bus bays. Most of the project, $40 million, is being funded by the Federal Transit Administration. The rest of the money is coming from the RGRTA and the New York State Department of Transportation.

The historic HH Warner building — which has been converted into high-end lofts — is located next to the bus station property. The building’s owners sued RGRTA, asserting that the environmental review for the project was incomplete, says RGRTA Chief Operating Officer Bill Carpenter. They lost the case, however, and the courts have refused to hear their appeal, Carpenter said.

A ground breaking for the bus station should take place in November, Carpenter said, with a grand opening in mid 2015.