PLATTSBURGH — The new Plattsburgh Greyhound Bus terminal location has not received a warm welcome from the two candidates running for City of Plattsburgh mayor.
Over the past few weeks, to the dismay of mayoral hopefuls Wendell Hughes, a Democrat, and Don Kasprzak, a Republican, the bus company has been operating on Cornelia Street outside of the Clinton County Government Center in the city.
Greyhound had previously been operating out of the Mountain Mart on Route 9 near Cumberland Head Corners in the Town of Plattsburgh.
Hughes, currently the Clinton County Legislator for Area 8 that covers parts of the City and Town of Plattsburgh, raised safety concerns about Greyhound operating on such narrow roadways like it is there.
“I was driving down there yesterday morning, and that bus stuck out,” Hughes said last week. “When he opens the doors, he’s in the road, he’s almost halfway across the road.”
“It’s affecting our Clinton County (Public) Transport, too … and the bus system is going to do a new college transport this year, too.”
‘IT’S APPALLING’
Kasprzak did not mince words when discussing the safety issues that have arisen from this situaion as well, saying he would not have allowed this situation to exist if he were mayor.
“I think it’s appalling, and it should stop immediately, and Greyhound should find a place where they will pay for a full-service location to take care of passengers on their buses,” he said.
Kasprzak said exiting the bus in an unofficial terminal like this is unsafe to passengers.
“When weather turns cold and winter arrives this option is absolutely unacceptable. The county received federal funds to construct a bus terminal at the airport so this is a sensible location. The college has a location in front of the Student Center that would easily accommodate this situation. Both are much safer for the passengers to disembark which would include the college students using the service,” he shared on his campaign Facebook page.
“The council should have stood up for the City of Plattsburgh residents, business owners and taxpayers, and forced the Greyhound bus company to stop immediately from dropping off people in the middle of downtown, which is inhumane and unsafe and they should be told and directed to cease and desist immediately. There’s no gray area here. They’re mistreating people, and it’s a completely unsafe situation for everyone involved, and it’s a disgrace that they have been allowed to do this. The council should have stood up and stopped it.”
‘WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER’
When Greyhound operated out of Mountain Mart, the location became known as a gathering spot for migrants who illegally crossed the northern border and would then catch a bus to other locations such as New York City.
Hughes said there have been several incidents that have occurred in the short time Greyhound has been picking up passengers at that location, including a couple arrests and disputes over cab fares.
“This has got to be put in a safer place. No matter where it goes, stuff like that can happen, let’s be honest … (but) they’ve got to move that,” Hughes said about the location.
“Collaboratively, we have to get together.”