PLATTSBURGH — The City of Plattsburgh Common Council has approved an agreement with Greyhound and Trailways that will allow the two bus companies to utilize the former Farmer’s Market location in the Durkee Street parking lot for the foreseeable future.
“It’s not a permanent solution,” Mayor Chris Rosenquest said at the council’s meeting Thursday night.
“And everybody knows — certainly, the providers understand — that we’re doing this so that we can alleviate the original concern.”
GREYHOUND DILEMMA
Since early July, Greyhound has been operating at the Clinton County Public Transportation bus stop on Cornelia Street outside of the Clinton County Government Building.
This location has been subject to much controversy and criticism because passengers are forced to wait for the bus outside where they are exposed to the elements. With the winter months quickly approaching, many local officials raised the alarm about the lack of shelter available there and called for an alternative location as soon as possible.
Rosenquest proposed the location change and contract with Greyhound and Trailways earlier this week and put it before councilors Thursday, who approved it 4-2. Councilors Elizabeth Gibbs (D-Ward 3) and Jeff Moore (D-Ward 6) were the two nay votes.
The initial contract proposal called for an annual license but councilors preferred a monthly license to be issued instead and the amendment was made.
‘COST US A LOT MORE’
Under the terms of contract agreement, Greyhound and Trailways will now each pay the city $1,000 monthly.
Moore took issue with the dollar amount. He said the monthly fee would likely not be enough to cover the potential upkeep expenses that the city may incur from having a bus stop in that location.
“We’re going to be responsible for garbage … I think that there will probably be some damage there. I think it will require extra police observation, because there’s going to be all these people down there that weren’t there now,” he said.
“So I think it’s going to cost us a lot more than what we’re envisioning here … if we’re talking about giving somebody total use of a public building, I really think we should consider getting a little more.”
Additionally, Moore said the area there is not well lit, adding to his security concerns. Rosenquest, however, disagreed, saying the parking lot has lights and so does the building. He said there will be security cameras put in place there as well.
“We do feel that, because there will be activity there (that) there will not be as much of the loitering from some of the other folks that kind of use that area to gather and to hang out,” the mayor said.
“I understand the concern, but again, you all ask us to create a solution … here it is.”
Councilor Dave Monette (D-Ward 5) questioned the possibility of increasing the monthly fee if they determine it’s not actually enough. Rosenquest said that’s an option.
“These folks have always been amenable to conversations and making this work.”
Gibbs did not agree with the proposal because it included Trailways. She said Trailways is not the city’s problem to solve like Greyhound is.
“Our goal was to solve the issue that we were having with Greyhound,” Gibbs said.
“So then what we would potentially be doing is having Greyhound and Trailways traffic through the Durkee Street parking lot, and then making it more congested, and I think adding more problems to the situation and not really creating the solution that we originally sought.”
Rosenquest said the two services, although they compete with one another, tend to work their schedules together to avoid that type of congestion.
“We don’t necessarily see the amount of congestion that people may think that’s going to happen,” he said.
‘SELF-INFLICTED ISSUE’
In addition to Councilor Gibbs and Moore, there were other local opponents of the city’s agreement with the two bus companies.
David Souliere, Chair of the city Republican Committee and avid opponent of Rosenquest’s initial decision to bring Greyhound into the city, released a statement Thursday night commending Gibbs and Moore for their no vote.
“The Mayor’s attempt to find a humanitarian solution to this self-inflicted issue falls short with this proposed solution,” he said.
“Combined with the fact that Councilors were informed of this contract the same time the press was informed, is disingenuous, and shows the lack of transparency we have come to know from this administration. The Farmers market is not equipped to handle passengers, and is not winterized. The idea that $1,000 per month is enough to cover any upgrade costs, as well as continued maintenance is fantasy. We implore the Mayor to return to Earth.”
With the council approval now in place, Greyhound and Trailways are tentatively scheduled to start operating out of the Durkee Street parking lot on Thursday, Sept. 12, the mayor said.