Transit Center still on track

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County is moving ahead with plans for a transit center in Riverstone, even after emotional testimony against it.

County commissioners in January, on a 2-1 vote, decided to fund the permanent hub for the Citylink bus system.

The first phase is still planned to go out to bid soon. The new center is planned to be built where the existing temporary lot is in Riverstone.

The center has been in the works for several years. However, it came under scrutiny and overshadowed the recent public comment period for proposed fares, route changes and days of operation for Citylink.

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee passed a resolution urging county commissioners to suspend the planned construction "until a need for the transit center is established, the recurring costs are well-defined and the cost-to-benefit is justified."

The Charles Carroll Society, which describes itself as liberty-minded traditionalists migrating to conservative redoubts, also expressed opposition to the transit center on its website.

"We clearly advocated for at least not expanding the current system," an article on the site states. "If it works well for the people now, leave it alone. Why does government always want to grow? At the meeting, patriots (as defined by libertarian-leaning Orthodox Christians and Jews who are modern day anti-federalists) advocated to stop digging and to reduce, not expand, federal entanglements."

Much of the testimony also expressed concerns about the Spokane Transit Authority or Greyhound eventually tying into the future transit center and, with that, bringing crime.

However, County Commissioners Chris Fillios and Bob Bingham, who supported the transit center moving ahead in January, said this week they haven't changed their earlier decisions despite the outcry from the groups. They said the county is moving ahead with plans to construct the center.

"I don't have any personal intentions of reversing my vote," Bingham said. "However, a variety of important comments and concerns were brought forth. Those caused me to look at things more deeply so we don't create a problem."

Fillios said the county is proceeding as planned since January on the transit center.

"There's no plan that I'm aware of to bring it up for reconsideration, but that doesn't mean it won't happen," he said. "One of the other commissioners would have to bring it up; I certainly won't do it. I stand by my vote (in January) even after the testimony."

Commissioner Marc Eberlein couldn't be reached for comment, but he voted against the transit center in January and recently said he's still against the expansion.

County staff said while linking the center with other carriers such as STA and Greyhound was noted as a possibility in the planning stages, a possible pilot project with STA for 2025 would need approval from county commissioners.

"It would require a tremendous amount of research, discussions with all the involved parties, the input of law enforcement and the direction of Kootenai County commissioners," said Kimberly Hobson, the county's Public Transit Office program specialist. "In addition, after all the groundwork, there would be extensive public outreach required and an inter-government agency agreement involving the commissioners with the participating cities."

Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White and Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger both testified at the recent hearing on the proposed Citylink changes that, due to lighting and security cameras, they don't have concerns about the future transit center increasing crime. However, White said linking up with STA would give him pause.

Construction on the first phase of the transit center is estimated to start next March. It is expected to include about 2,500 square feet of office space, a bus pull-through area, covered seating, paved parking and security cameras.

The first phase of the transit center is estimated to cost $2,056,360. The Federal Transit Administration will fund $1,645,088 while the local match is estimated at $411,272.

Some opposed to the transit center believe the building is extravagant and could be a hangout for the homeless, resembling other such facilities across the country.

"Some people believe we're building the Taj Mahal, but the transit center is very much just a hub with ADA for Citylink," Fillios said. "There will be two offices — one for law enforcement and another for a break area for drivers to complete their paperwork. This is not a grand scheme to create a transit authority."

Bingham said one man who testified at the hearing informed him he has enough money to oust him from office. Bingham said the threat wasn't a physical one, but a political one.

And he said he wasn’t worried anyway.

"I was a street kid," Bingham said. "I've had a brick to my head and have been shot at. I never asked for money (during the campaign) so personally I'm not obligated to anybody. I love our republic and democratic process and — good or bad — I like hearing from people. It's a passionate subject and he may have regretted what he said. I have said things that I regret."

Commissioners are expected to discuss the proposed Citylink changes on May 22.

The county is proposing adding a $1.50 fare for rides on the fixed routes in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Hayden and a $3 fare for paratrasit rides. Rides to the Coeur d'Alene Casino would remain free.

Changes to routes to make the system more efficient and cost-effective are also proposed.