Transit trouble

By RALPH BARTHOLDT

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene City Council member said he would propose withholding funds for the area’s free public transportation system if the county does not move a bus stop that has drawn ire from property owners.

Residents of the Northwest Village gated community in Coeur d’Alene want the wheels of the bus to go around without stopping in front of their homes because they think the free service could land riffraff in front of their doors, and that their busy street is unsafe for a bus stop.

They have taken their fight to City Hall where they have found some support, although the county holds the keys to the latest public transportation conundrum.

Kootenai County’s public transportation office, which administers Citylink, said the proposed stop in front of the Northwest Village at 600 W. Hubbard Ave. is part of a series of route changes that included two years of preparation.

When the routes and accompanying bus stops were proposed at four public meetings, no one weighed in on the Hubbard stop, said Kimberly Hobson, program specialist for the county.

Planning the routes and stops included ride-alongs, and plenty of input, Hobson said.

“There were no comments about the Hubbard stop,” Hobson said. “That public participation process is designed to take into account public comments.”

Once the process was completed, the stops were certified and the changes were implemented, she said.

Starting today, the Citylink bus, which is often used by students heading to North Idaho College, according to the county, will stop in front of Northwest Village, a block east of Northwest Boulevard near the college campus.

“The Hubbard stop is an existing stop frequented by students heading into the educational corridor,” Hobson said.

The stop, which was previously located on Northwest Boulevard a half-block away, was added because of a directional change in the bus route, she said.

But Northwest Village resident Annie Mote doesn’t agree with the assessment.

The route, Mote said, has low ridership and is far enough from the college that it does not encourage students to use the bus stop.

Village resident Ann Testroet said she and other residents fear vandalism and loitering at the stop if it goes ahead as projected. Not long ago the entrance to the Village was vandalized and a police report was filed.

In addition, Mote said, three driveways including the Village inlet and outlet converge at the spot, making it unsafe for pedestrians. The street also has bicycle lanes, and because it is a busy thoroughfare, it has the potential for traffic snafus.

“Loitering, vandalism, congestion and lack of visibility to enter or exit our main gate,” Mote said. “Our primary concerns are resident safety.”

Residents have sent letters voicing their disapproval of the bus stop’s location to county commissioners and the mayor as well as City Council member Dan Gookin, who is the council’s transportation liaison.

Gookin has asked the county to move the stop and alleviate the hubbub concerning its location, but so far the county has stood firm, Gookin said.

In an email to property owners at Northwest Village, Gookin encouraged residents to attend next Tuesday’s council meeting to air their concerns.

Gookin said he would propose withholding the city’s share of funding for Citylink until the issue is resolved — though it may be a moot gesture, he said.

“The city has authorized an increase in funding for Citylink in this year’s budget,” Gookin said in the email. “If the bus stop remains, then I would encourage you and your neighbors to attend the funding meeting and insist that the city no longer fund Citylink until the stop is moved.”

Gookin said he could make a motion to withhold funding although it would be up to other council members to second the motion, giving momentum to the proposition.