Council votes for 'Do nothing' option on temporary bus terminal

While the buses will come and go, a temporary bus terminal will be staying put at city hall.

City council on Monday night voted 7-3 to maintain the status quo, agreeing to administration’s recommendation to keep the temporary terminal at city hall for the next two to three years. The alternative was to move it to Violet Street, a more expensive venture and one that came with more security risks.

Miles Street, east of May Street, was also considered by Genivar, formerly Entra Consultants, the firm that also provided the original site choices for council last March.

Genivar’s director of transit solutions Dennis Fletcher said based on a new comparison between the three sites, the "do nothing" option to stay at city hall was the safest, most cost effective option for the city before it decides on a new permanent location.

While the status quo will cost the city $48,000 plus an additional $160,000 for additional security to keep the first floor of city hall open past business hours, choosing the other sites would have cost up to $533,000 Fletcher said.

"We see a fairly significant difference," Fletcher said. "City hall scores higher in virtually every category."

The categories used to determine the ratings were operational impacts, passenger access, safety and amenities, site capacity cite security, site access and traffic impact, area impact and implementation.

Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds, who supported the recommendation, said the two scores he found most valuable were site amenities and security, which each scored 30 per cent higher at city hall than the other sites. Foulds said it’s important that the site selected help riders who use the transit system.

"I have some sympathy for people who work and live in the vicinity their lives are going to change slightly," Foulds said. ""I really think the facility here serves the passengers extremely well."
Not everyone agreed.

John Livingston, chairman of the board of Brodie Street’s Glengowan Place, said the terminal won’t work for residents and area businesses.

Livingston said he was "disappointed" in the decision, adding he provided council with 13 letters from people who have similar feelings about keeping the terminal at city hall. He said he hoped if the city was going to keep the terminal at there, it would be for less than two or three years.

"The only thing I can say If it’s going to be here now I’m going to implore the council to look at a timeframe of two or three months not two or three years," said Livingston.

Neebing Coun. Lynda Rydholm, who voted against the recommendation – as did Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon at-large Coun. Larry Hebert – said she thought when council made the decision to move the bus terminal to city hall it was only going to stay there until July.
"I feel like we’re breaking a promise," Rydholm said. "That doesn’t sit well."

Also Monday, council requested a report from administration after the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority requested $527,160 to upgrade its office. The money would buy a new furnace and connect the building to city water and sewer. LRCA chair Bill Bartley said the authority would also extend those sewer and water lines to land next to the current LRCA building should it ever need them.

"We’re looking at various options." Bartley said. "One of them is building next door."