Council’s decision on the “disappointing” bus station

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The Council’s 7-4 decision to relocate the city’s bus terminal to Huron Street was disappointing.

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There should have been more debate on alternative locations, as some of the advisers put it. The Huron Street bus barns are technically in the canal district and certainly not in the downtown area.

Personally, I thought that the suggestion made a few weeks ago by Coun. Matthew Shoemaker deserved serious consideration.

He had suggested that instead of renovating or rebuilding on the current site or moving the terminal to Huron Street, this transit take over the vacant Algoma Central Agawa Canyon tourist train depot in the northwest corner. from the Station Mall lot.

The existing structure already had most, if not all, of the necessary facilities and access conditions. There would be more than enough parking spaces for buses and cars as the tourist train depot could handle more than 800 passengers for one outing.

Having the city bus terminal here would likely appease many Queen Street businesses that were against moving to Huron Street, and certainly attract more shoppers and tourists to Station Mall.

Given the current occupancy of the Station Mall, I think Algoma Central Properties would be willing to separate some of its northwest parking lot and yard structure and sell it to the city. The city is notorious for buying properties, some at exorbitant prices.

There was talk of the need for major renovations to the current city police department building. There was also talk of moving the police headquarters to a site in the city center. The current city-owned bus terminal site may be the most suitable location for a new Sault Ste. Marie Home police service.

Four of our advisors have noticed problems and increased costs with the reconstruction of a bus terminal on the current site and with the move to the bus barns on Huron Street.

It’s a shame that seven of the advisers didn’t look outside the original box. Alternatives should have been considered.

Fred haavisto

Sault Ste. Married