As a cold winter wind whips across the Smart Centre parking lots, Mark Thomas hopes that someday owners of Chatham’s biggest commercial centre decide to provide their customers who take buses with a taste of consideration.
That someday may be sooner rather than later, according to Adam Sullo, Chatham-Kent’s director of engineering and transportation.
Sullo said the municipality is in the process of negotiating a bus stop at the front of the Great Canadian Superstore.
“We could have things wrapped up in the next couple of months or so,” he said. “The property owner is much more amenable than in the past.”
Sullo said the stop won’t include a shelter due to legal issues but it will still be an improvement since it will be somewhat protected by the elements and closer to the store.
“A shelter on private property entails legal issues, including snow removal, damage if it’s struck and possible relocation,” he said.
For Thomas, the move, if it happens, is long overdue.
“You would think someone would do something,” the south side resident said. “I shop here a lot and this lot can get really cold in winter and really hot in summer.”
The current Chatham-Kent Transit stop leaves passengers just inside the shopping centre parking lot, with the closest stores some several hundred feet away. The Real Canadian Superstore is almost a half kilometer round trip to the current stop.
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A handful of carts are usually found at the stop, as shoppers can’t carry their purchases that far.
“If people don’t have too much to carry they go over there,” Thomas said, motioning to the back of the Bouclair store. “It keeps you out of the wind if it’s coming from that direction.”
Former C-K councillor Anne Gilbert pushed for a number of years for some shelter at the location.
Gilbert recently contacted council and administration to push for the problem to be rectified.
“I’m being told there are negotiations going on but we’ve had this problem for years,” she said. “I don’t believe it’s a very high priority at city hall. People have been waiting in the rain for buses there for 20 years.”
“Why have a ‘retention and attraction’ department when MCK does not provide the basic necessities to its citizens particularly those who rely on bus transit,” she said.
She said other areas, such as that near the No Frills store on Queen Street need shelters.
“I have seen seniors and mothers with children standing in the rain or snow waiting for the bus with their groceries.”
Gilbert said for all of its “strategic plans” the municipality falls woefully short of simple services, calling it “embarrassing!”
Sullo, who’s been in his current position for six months, said there are challenges his department will be undertaking.
“We have a number of issues we’re going to council with, including ways to increase ridership and develop more effective and efficient routes.
“For example, we had considered a second stop at Walmart but it would add more time to the route,” he said. “It’s a balancing issue of serving everyone’s needs but making sure we’re on time.”
As he turned to do some shopping, Thomas noted the numerous cart shelters dotting the parking lots.
“I wonder if they could just move one to the bus stop,” he said. “Nobody parks out this far and they could use part of it for the carts people leave.”
Should be building a shelter at the Wal-Mart stop instead of the Superstore. A lot more people use the stop at Wal-Mart. So if a shelter gets built at Superstore, does that mean the bus will no longer stop where the Wal-Mart stop is right now?? Does anyone realize for the people that take the bus and shop at Wal-Mart will have to walk farther to get to the Superstore shelter and in turn could miss the bus. You are making it a lot harder to take the bus than it is right now. Whoever thought this through, obviously doesn't take the bus and doesn't understand how much of a pain it is waiting and trying to walk to a stop before the bus comes. Waiting for the bus is more than 30 minutes. Most times it takes 40-45 minutes for the bus to come.