Hundreds trying to stop bus exchange move to Terminal Ave in Nanaimo

A group of Nanaimo business owners and residents are trying to stop a bus exchange from being built on Terminal Avenue in downtown Nanaimo.

The renewed fight is coming in advance of an expected recommendation to the Nanaimo City Council.

The President of the Victoria Cresent Association says a recent fire started in the middle of the night by an area building once again had him worried about safety downtown.

“At 3:00 Wednesday morning, there was a huge fire. The flames were about three feet high,” said Shaw.

It’s that backdrop that has the head of the Victoria Cresent Association worried about a transit exchange potentially being built nearby on Terminal Avenue.

“Between midnight and six when there are no busses it’s going to be a nightmare down here,” said Shaw.

The City first floated the idea last year and the public input sessions showed people preferred a mixed-use building built on the former Jean Burns site instead of a transit exchange.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against the location as a bus exchange.

“It came lowest on the survey of what people would like to see in that area and I just feel they’re disappointing us as citizens of Nanaimo if they go through with something like that,” said Carla Samson, petition organizer and a downtown business owner.

Samson also has concerns about traffic flow if the transit exchange is built on Terminal Avenue.

The city’s transportation manager says the location has yet to be decided.

“We’re looking for a site that is central and well served to provide operational needs for the transit system the intersection of Terminal and Commercial is definitely the centre for downtown,” said Jamie Rose.

Rose says transit exchanges shouldn’t be unfairly prejudged as being dangerous.

“It’s quite clear that when a transit exchange or a transit focal point is developed there’s actually a lower incidence of safety and security issues,” said Rose.

Those opposed remain unconvinced.

The issue will be placed before city council for a decision in the coming months.

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