City accused of not doing enough to keep bus line downtown
Published Tuesday June 23rd, 2009
Tempers flare | Mayor says meetings happen behind the scenes
A torrent of opposition hit city council Monday night as students and environmentalists said the city has an obligation to try to offer incentives or help negotiate a deal to keep Acadian Coach Lines downtown.
The city gave first and second reading to the zoning change that will permit Acadian Coach Lines to move its downtown bus depot to 150 Woodside Lane, off Hanwell Road.
But that's standard procedure for councillors who reflect on public comments before third and final reading in two weeks.
"I walk to the bus station," said St. Thomas University student Ella Henry, as a crowded council chamber erupted in applause. "I strongly urge you to keep the bus station downtown."
Henry said it would cost students an extra $4 to take a taxi - or about $10 in total - to make the trip from downtown to Woodside Lane.
"When you're on a student budget, that can be a significant amount of money round-trip several times a year," Henry said.
Dave Steele is the law student representative on the University of New Brunswick Student Union. He took a hard-line approach in his presentation, arguing it's the city's role to halt the bus depot's departure from downtown.
"This is a political decision and the buck stops here," Steele said. "I don't want to hear that this is a private business and we can't do anything about it.''
He said it's council's right and duty to ensure that the bus depot's new location best suits the needs of the citizens of Fredericton.
"This is what you've been elected to do. This is your job," Steele said. "This issue is not just going to be forgotten either. Don't think you're insulated by three years until your re-election campaign ... This will give your opponents the ammo needed to obliterate you in the polls."
As Steele's jabs at city council drew shouts and cheers from the public gallery, Mayor Brad Woodside got testy.
"Let's be respectful. We want to listen to your comments," said the mayor before abruptly calling a 15-minute break.
Anti-poverty advocate Dan Weston accused councillors of representing middle- to upper-middle-class values and not being concerned about the city's low-income population, which relies on accessible public transportation.
Meantime, the Fredericton chapter of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick presented a 1,200-name petition calling for the bus station to stay put.
Woodside said city council hasn't been ignoring public concerns. He hinted that as a result of meetings he has had with Acadian Coach Lines officials and university officials, there may be good news ahead.
"We cannot make announcements this evening. It's not our place to do so, but I do want the public to know that we're not sitting idly by on any issue and usually things happen behind the scenes and that is the case here," Woodside said.
"Prior to third reading, I'm sure Acadian Bus Lines and the universities are going to have comments to make and things to say that will be addressing some of the points, if not a lot of the points here this evening.''
Acadian was given notice to vacate its rented facilities at 101 Regent St. by its landlord, Commercial Properties Ltd.
A spokeswoman for the bus company told the planning advisory committee that it would prefer to stay downtown, but couldn't find an appropriate location.
Instead, the bus line approached United Rentals about subleasing space in its offices on Woodside Lane for a waiting area, ticket counter, courier and package delivery business.
Commercial Properties Ltd. has since relented, although it's unclear what the financial terms of the lease renewal would be.
Meanwhile, residents of Red Maple Court and Serenity Lane don't want a bus depot as a neighbour. They brought their own petition forward, expressing concern about speed, traffic, wear and tear on a residential street and deterioration of the stable character of their community.
Acadian Coach Lines is owned by Group Orleans Express of Quebec.
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Comments (7)
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Is this concern about maintaining the "stable character of their community" code for something else?
I live right in the neighbourhood of the current bus station and see many people on a daily basis walking to the station with their rolling luggage... I suppose because they are not "most people" and don't have the cash to take a taxi they don't count.
You might want to look into a concept called "zoning".
Failing that, try opening a night club or an adult video store in a residential neighbourhood. You'll see how fast the city will make it their business to tell you where you can and cannot do business.
I could be wrong, but the United Rentals building was already in place before many, if not all of the homes on Red Maple Court. If somebody chooses to build a home next to a commercial area, expect to have commercial traffic!