Spinnin‘ Wheels: Traction Sought for BATA‘s Bus Terminal in Downtown TC

April 28, 2004

One thing that everyone seems to agree on is that Traverse City needs a better mass transit system to handle the city‘s growing traffic gridlock problem.
But when it comes to siting a new BATA (Bay Area Transit Authority) bus terminal on Hall Street just west of downtown, some opponents are steering a campaign to scuttle the project before it kicks into gear.
“Our downtown area definitely doesn’t need this,“ says Donna Folgarelli, owner of Folgarelli’s Market in a release distributed to area media. “We’ve worked so hard to maintain the beauty and openness of this community. This new terminal puts all that in jeopardy.“
Folgarelli is one of more than 100 business persons who are on record as opposing the proposed bus station, to be located within a stone‘s throw of her deli and wine shop. Opponents say they‘ve collected 1,000 signatures from area residents opposing the terminal, many of whom live in residential neighborhoods near the site.
The terminal does, however, have the approval of the Traverse City Planning Commission, which voted 7-1 in favor of the site at its April 7 meeting. And some area supporters feel that BATA‘s quest for a bus terminal has simply become a hot potato passed around the community with a “not in my backyard“ (NIMBY) attitude expressed at each suggested site.

OVERBLOWN?
Two years ago, BATA proposed a bus transfer station at the former train station at the north end of Boardman Lake off 8th Street, only to be shut down by a NIMBY reaction.
Bob Otwell, executive director of TART Trails, is an advocate of mass transit who was on the planning commission at the time the train station site was considered for BATA. He says that opposition to the original site was overblown in the local media, with few people actually speaking out against it.
“I think it‘s important to have a choice in transportation options -- certainly the most efficient way to move people around is by walking, biking or mass transit,“ Otwell says. “The way our region is growing, people need mass transit to bring people downtown to work, businesses, beaches and restaurants. So it makes all kinds of sense to have the terminal downtown.“
Other players in the debate include the Grand Traverse Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Association, both of which were neutral on the issue at the time the Express went to press.

WHAT‘S WHAT
BATA is seeking a special land use permit to site a new bus terminal on Hall Street between Harbor View Center and the North Peak brewing company. BATA reportedly has the $1.2 million needed to purchase the property, which would be adjacent to the Community Mental Health building, many of whose clients are dependent upon bus transportation.
The proposed bus station would include a waiting room, ticket counter, restrooms and stalls for 16 buses. It would accommodate an estimated 190 buses per day. A four-foot wall would run along the west side of the terminal, sheltering it from neighboring residents.
For neighbors such as Folgarelli and Bernard Stover, owner of Harbor View Center, the accompanying noise, pollution and traffic would be too close for comfort.
“This terminal would be located in one of the highest traffic areas in town,“ Folgarelli says. “During the summer, it’s dangerous enough getting around without buses adding to the congestion on Hall and Front streets. Not to mention all the undesirable diesel fumes.“

CRITICS‘ LIST
Critics of the bus station plan have a long list of concerns packaged by a local marketing firm. Chief complaints include the following:
• The terminal diverges from Traverse City‘s master plan, which calls for a waterfront district emphasizing pedestrian traffic and new residences, shops and restaurants downtown.
• Diesel fumes from buses would create more particulate pollution downtown, possibly causing health problems for occupants of Harbor View Center.
• City tax revenues would be lost. Critics of the project claim that if fully developed, the site could yield a tax base of up to $600,000 per year.
• BATA has no ridership surveys or statistics to support the need for a bus station downtown.

PLANNING COMMISSION VIEW
Supporters of the station say concerns over bus traffic and pollution don‘t add up. “Analyses on traffic and air pollution have shown these are non-issues,“ Otwell says. “Guidelines for diesel are making it a cleaner fuel each year.“ Additionally, BATA buses will be equipped with new filters to decrease emissions.
Kelly Thayer, a transportation specialist for the Michigan Land Use Institute, notes that pollution from additional bus traffic on Hall Street is miniscule compared to the 35,000 or so cars which drive down the parkway each day.
In approving the location at its April 7 meeting, the Traverse City Planning Commission issued a report stating that, “The use is harmonious with and in accordance with the general principles and proposals of the City Plan.“
In summary, the planning commission sees the proposed bus terminal as a welcome addition to downtown, making the following points:
• “The center is within one quarter mile to a high concentration of job sites or dwellings.“
• “The use will not create excessive additional requirements at public cost for public facilities and services.“
• “Noise, lights, glare and odor will not unreasonably disturb the surrounding land uses or members of the public.“
• No transit vehicle fueling, repair or storage on the site.“

Ultimately, the decision on downtown‘s bus station is up to the city commission, which is expected to vote on the matter in May.