Councillors say more details needed before approving Transit terminal
Posted May 5, 2010 06:02:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HRM councillors say they need more information to allay concerns over the expansion of the Metro Transit bus terminal near the MacDonald bridge.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Coun. Jim Smith (Albro Lake-Harbourview) brought up a list of concerns from his constituents about the $9.5 million project and asked staff to provide more details before a public hearing next month.
Smith says there’s currently a petition circulating raising concerns about the environmental impact of the development.
“Using the wilderness part of the Common, there are lots of people who don’t want to see that to happen,” he said. “There are concerns about not getting enough information as to alternate sites for the transit terminal. There are concerns over possible fumes.”
He says one of his biggest concerns is Metro Transit has not outlined its reasons for needing an expanded terminal.
“Transit has its five-year plan, and we’re buying new buses and those kinds of things, but there isn’t a specific document saying, ‘These are the reasons why we need a new and larger terminal,'” he said.
Coun. Jennifer Watts (Connaught-Quinpool) says she takes issue with the fact that the province has already approved Dartmouth Common land as the site of the expansion.
“It’s that long-standing issue of what are the Commons for,” she said. “Should they be used for major infrastructure projects or seen as open recreation spaces?”
HRM has already spent $600,000 on the expansion project, but now needs to approve the rezoning.
Transit officials have said the existing terminal at the Dartmouth Sportsplex is already at its maximum capacity and needs to expand to accomodate new bus routes and increased ridership.
