Transit center's policies driving some riders crazy

The $2.16 million Citylink transit center that recently opened in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone development is causing some grumblings over restricted public access to the 2,600-square-foot building, its locked public bathrooms and a lack of parking.

Since opening in September, Citylink users have had trouble gaining access to an adjacent new restroom. The transit center itself isn’t intended for public use — it provides office space for Citylink staff.

Lillian Moore Lind, 95, says she rides the bus a couple times a month, usually to the Coeur d’Alene Casino. Lind says she has encountered locked restrooms on a few occasions. While she waits, there’s no opportunity for the nonagenarian to get out of the weather.

“I was pretty sure they were going to have inside covered areas for the riders,” Lind said. “What’s there isn’t what I got the impression it was going to be.”

Amber Conklin, a program specialist with the Kootenai County-run Resource Management Office, which oversees Citylink North, said staff has been working to resolve issues based on the public’s concerns since the transit center opened.

“The doors we changed to keep open was the public restrooms. We did that in response to the need we saw onsite,” Conklin said. “To access the office building, the public needs to ring the doorbell — or wave at us through the glass — because we have confidential paratransit files.”

Conklin said Citylink always has at least one staff member on site during hours that are expanded beyond typical office hours. In general there is someone available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kootenai County commissioner Bill Brooks said he visited the transit center earlier this week. He wasn’t impressed.

“It’s not a transit center, it’s a bureaucratic center,” he said. “It should be a place for the people of Kootenai County, not the bureaucrats of Kootenai County.”

Brooks said he was not a county commissioner when plans were developed for the transit center.

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“What’s there now is not (how) it was portrayed to the county taxpayers,” he added.

Commission Chairman Chris Fillios disagreed.

“When people complain they need to go back to the original design that was approved by commissioners in 2017 — it was built exactly to that plan on time and on budget,” Fillios said.

He said plans never called for indoor waiting, and the project includes a new outdoor shelter.

Conklin echoed Fillios’ comments.

“The purpose was always for it to be a bus transfer site, which is different than a bus station,” she said. “A bus station often has indoor areas for passengers. The building is being used by the drivers for breaks and training, the staff that oversee operations for the regular route buses, paratransit and senior ride programs, finance, etc. The staff assists the public and drivers.”

Conklin said the facility is a key multi-modal transportation hub; it is a park and ride and an access point for people using the two bus systems (Citylink North and Citylink South), the bike trails, and for programs like ridesharing.

RMO transportation employees are committed to excellence in the way they work with citizens, Conklin said.

“Truly, the heart of the staff is in serving the public and ensuring there are safe, reliable, and efficient transportation options for the people and communities we serve,” she said. “We are really happy to be here onsite at last to answer questions and ensure that operations run smoothly and safely.”

Previously, the administrative offices for Citylink staff were housed near the courthouse at the intersection of Government Way and Northwest Boulevard.

Brooks said he was embarrassed last week when he visited the transit facility and encountered a man outside.

“He was waiting outside in the freezing, freezing cold and he was waiting on two artificial legs,” Brooks said. “I was embarrassed to be a county commissioner.”

Lind said she’ll continue to take Citylink to the Coeur d’Alene Casino, and was initially excited when she heard about the transit center.

“So finally, a building was built. Guess what? A building that takes up that space and car parking is exclusive as offices,” Lind said. “Riders still must wait in the snow and rain.”