The Northside bus transfer point. Seriously. Here’s why.
Alder Bridget Maniaci, the Mullins, the Economic Development Director, etc etc etc
I’ll let you see for youreself. When the Mayor’s office sent out the message saying that tomorrow the bus stop would move to E Wash, Alder Manaici at 2 am sent out a message to neighbors letting know that morning the buses would be there. Not her fault I don’t think. But then she went to work and asked neighbors what they thought. I only saw one or two positive responses, no complaints. However, the notice that says they are now moving to the North Transfer Point reveal the following:
THURSDAY
Alder Maniaci has questions
From: Maniaci, Bridget
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 2:36 AM
To: Harmon, Ray
Cc: Chaney, Brian; Plominski, Katherine; Rummel, Marsha; Schauf, Mary; May, Michael; Richard Linster; timothy.olsen@sbcglobal.net; Tim Olsen; Tucker, Matthew; Verveer, Mike
Subject: Re: greyhound stopRay,
There’s a bar on that corner and no services anywhere nearby, nor room
for passenger loading. Did the contact say why they wanted Baldwin as
their stop? I have questions and a number of serious concerns.
Convienient they decided to tell us on the day before their lease is
up. I’d like police & Katherine to weigh in on impacts, and I need to
find out what the cafe and especially the bar owners feel about this,
in addition to the neighborhood. The bar has been a quiet, problem-
free establishment with prompt and responsive owners who have turned
the bar around since acquiring it 2 years ago.With the closing of the bus depot, there was some interest in
ordinance language being put forward to regulate the bus stops. Mike,
what are my legislative options?Matt, are there any zoning issues? Is there anything stopping them
from unloading passengers on the Capitol square?Thanks all,
Bridget
Zoning Response
From: Tucker, Matthew
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 2:45 PM
To: Maniaci, Bridget
Cc: Chaney, Brian; Plominski, Katherine; Rummel, Marsha; Schauf, Mary; May, Michael; Richard Linster; timothy.olsen@sbcglobal.net; Tim Olsen; Verveer, Mike; Harmon, Ray; Murphy, Brad
Subject: RE: greyhound stopAlder Maniaci- The City’s zoning code regulates the use and development of private property. Since this activity sounds like it will be taking place within the public right-of-way, zoning has no jurisdiction.
They could off-load passengers on the square if they would like, I suppose.
Matt Tucker
John Purnell – People are gathering on Mullins steps
From: John Purnell
Sent: Thu 4/1/2010 11:00 PM
To: Jay Mullins; Sue Springman; Brad Mullins
Subject:
FYI regarding temporary greyhound bus stop at 1245 east wash. Lots of people
were gathered on the steps tonight when I left work.
FRIDAY
Sue Springman, from Mullins – We do not want this here
From: Sue Springman
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 8:34 AM
To: Cooley, Timothy
Subject: FW:This is certainly not going to help us lease this building….I am not sure
what is going on as I am in Florida but if you could have someone look into
this I would appreciate it…we do not want this here.
Tim Cooley, Economic Development Director says Mullins not happy
Tim Cooley wants it moved.
From: Cooley, Timothy
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 9:48 AM
To: Harmon, Ray
Cc: Maniaci, Bridget; Olinger, Mark; ‘jbower@bowergrp.com’; Studesville,
Larry; ‘Susan Springman’; Mark Bugher
Subject: FW: Greyhound and MullinsRay…
Any idea what’s going on with this? The owners of the property (Mullins) do
not want a pick-up site in front of their buildings. They were not
contacted re. the change.Please let me know how we can get this moved.
Thanks.
Tim
MONDAY
Mark Bugher, UW Research Park, wants it moved too
From: Mark Bugher
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:13 AM
To: Cooley, Timothy; Harmon, Ray
Cc: Maniaci, Bridget; Olinger, Mark; jbower@bowergrp.com; Studesville, Larry; ‘Susan Springman’
Subject: RE: Greyhound and MullinsI agree with the Mullins position on this one.
Mayor’s office responds
From: “Harmon, Ray”
Date: April 5, 2010 3:49:49 PM CDT
To: Mark Bugher, “Cooley, Timothy”,
Cc: “Maniaci, Bridget”, “Olinger, Mark”, Jim Bower, “Studesville, Larry”, ‘Susan Springman’
Subject: RE: Greyhound and MullinsSusan-
I shared your concerns with Mayor Dave and he was very supportive of Greyhound moving to another location.Greyhound will begin operating from the North Transfer Point starting tomorrow at 6:35am.
Please let me know if you have any other questions and or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ray
Neighborhood Notified
from Maniaci, Bridget
to “tlna@yahoogroups.com”
date Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 5:10 PM
subject [tlna] Fwd: Greyhound and MullinsGreyhound will be moving from using Baldwin & E Wash starting tomorrow.
Bridget
OK, LET’S THINK ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED
– Alder sends out notice to neighborhood hours before the bus stop is going to get moved because she only got a few hours notice.
– Alder sends questions to staff, staff say zoning have no issues with moving to the square.
– One neighborhood response:
I like the idea of a Greyhound terminal on East Washington. And, perhaps eventually in the same complex as a Yahara station train depot. I think they could be complementary transportation services. I think ground tranportation needs to eventaully code share like the airlines do to make for more seamless destination options.
– Business community and UW doesn’t like it and tells Mayor’s office and Economic Development Director.
– Within 3 business days, over a holiday/furtlough/spring break weekend, changes are made to accommodate business community and UW and inconvenience bus riders.
Do you think the neighborhood could have gotten this kind of response? If the business community says jump, does the Mayor ask “how high”? Why wasn’t Alder Rummel involved since its on her side of the Avenue? What do UW students think of the UW Research Park position on this? How surprised are people going to be when they get dropped off at the wasteland known as the North Transfer Point with not much around, except maybe Wiggie’s. Why wasn’t Alder Maniaici’s suggestion of the square utilized? There’s a lot more options for riders there and its closer to the density of the UW and downtown. It made more sense. Don’t get me wrong, this was all poorly thought out, I don’t know why that location was chosen with no shelter near by in the first place, but imagine getting dropped off in the rain this morning at the North Transfer Point. Or getting to E Wash and Baldwin and finding out the bus stop moved and having to try to figure out how to get to the bus stop. I’m sure glad the business community is happy and not inconvenienced, but this seems like another stupid decision, there have to be better options.
