Council approves pricier, prettier design for new transit terminal
Posted Feb 9, 2011 05:29:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It will cost $3 million more than first thought, but city council is going ahead with plans to build a state of the art transit terminal on the Dartmouth Common.
And those who voted against the more expensive design are crying foul.
Coun. Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm-South End) says this project has been a “screw up” since the beginning and she doesn’t agree with council allowing it go $3 million over budget.
“This is a project that someone has to be held accountable for,” she said. “We just continue to pay a consultant. What’s going to happen when they come back the third time? I’m being asked to make a blind decision today and I can’t make that blind decision. I can’t.”
Most councilors agreed that the new terminal on the Dartmouth Common will be worth the $12.3 million.
The new facility includes several upgrades to the current one – a bridge, elevators, a green roof and washrooms.
Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) also feels this more expensive design will provide enhanced safety for transit users.
“I’m very pleased that we’ve gone with option one,” she said. “I think that’s great for the transit users and the drivers.”
McClusky adds it should help attract more people to public transit.
“I’m sure it will,” she said. “I know somebody who waits for that bus down there now and they say, ‘Have any of the councillors ever stood there and waited for a bus? It’s gross, and that’s the best way I can describe it.’ So I’m sure more people will use the bus when this gets built.”
The second design option carried a price tag of only $9.1 million.
