THUNDER BAY -- Larry Hebert has some concerns about a plan to make city hall the south side's permanent bus terminal but he thinks it's likely there to stay.
The at-large councilllor and regular transit user said nearby St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which he belongs to, never had an issue with vandalism until city hall became a bus terminal several years ago. Since then it's had three or four broken windows.
While the Brodie Street bus terminal still existed it had the highest crime rate in the city, some of which has found a home around city hall.
"There are cameras but there was a murder outside of here in 2014 as well," Hebert said.
Neighbors in Glengowan Place condos have complained of noise and air pollution while Blake Funeral Chapel has raised traffic and security concerns but Hebert said city hall still makes sense as Thunder Bay Transit's permanent home.
"Talk to any bus driver and they'll tell you it's the best," he said as one of around nine people at city hall Tuesday evening for the first of two public consultation sessions on the idea.
Hebert said the plan needs some work though, excluding security concerns that are police and crime prevention issues rather than transit.
Top of mind for him is making sure city hall stays open for the same hours that the buses run.
"I don't see why we close it down. We don't close Water Street (terminal) down at 4:30," he said.
His other issue is that the plan, which would see about $350,000 in upgrades outside of city hall, doesn't include any public bathrooms.
"Everybody has to go to the bathroom. Will people do drug deals in there? Will they have sex in there? Probably but let's clean them out after people use them and let's provide people at least with the dignity of having a place to go to the bathroom rather than somebody's lawn or behind a building," he said.
Transit services manager Brad Loroff said administration would definitely look into those ideas if that's what city council wants but there would also be additional costs.
"That would really be a council decision," he said.
Transit has been speaking with neighours around city hall about their concerns and getting public feedback is why the city is hosting two open houses, the other at city hall Thursday afternoon starting at 1 p.m.
"We'll have a better idea a the end of this consultation process about what they have to say," he said.
There would also be larger costs if the city decides to move the transit terminal elsewhere Loroff said.
Connie Hurlbert lives in the country but rides the bus whenever she visits her daughter, who is in a wheelchair. The plan would see the sidewalk and boulevards expanded to three metres for accessibility needs. A pair of new eight-foot by 20-foot bus shelters would also be fully accessible.
Hurlbert said she likes the plan, especially the idea of bus shelters that heat up at the push of a button.
"We have cold enough weather for heated shelters," she said.
"I think that's very wise."
And the location makes sense.
"This location works because it's central," she said.
If approved, there would also be more landscaping, hard surfacing and lighting, along with more garbage and recycling cans.
