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UPDATE: Just before 5PM Tuesday, the City of Springfield issued a press release indicating City Utilities is no longer seeking to build its new bus transfer station on a controversial site on St. Louis Street. The site was the center of controversy because the property owner was unwilling to sell. There had been discussions about City Utilities possibly using eminent domain to acquire the property, a move that prompted concern among members of city council.
After the City of Springfield hit a snag in getting the property it wanted for a new bus transfer station site, City Council met with representatives from city utilities to entertain the idea of alternative sites. KSMU’s Matt Evans reports on Tuesday’s city council luncheon.
In the Busch Building’s fourth floor conference room, city officials met to discuss options for a new bus transfer site. Three years ago, the city began looking at 25 to 30 possible sites to build the new bus station. A site that was believed to be the best option was on St. Louis Street. However, in order to build on this site, the city needed to obtain three properties it did not own. Two property owners had agreed to sell their properties, but a third property owner refused. Following much debate, the city approved of using eminent domain to forcibly take the property, if necessary. John Twitty, the general manager of City Utilities weighed in on the issue of eminent domain.
“It’s an incredibly emotional issue. There don’t seem to be very many alternatives in this particular case. There is perhaps a couple pieces of property, but they may jeopardize some of the money. It’s a real balancing or juggling kind of act,” said Twitty.
City council also considered other sites at the meeting and outlined four basic options. Those include: proceeding with the site on St. Louis Street; or utilizing a site near Booneville and Water. They also discussed possibly looking at additional sites, or maintaining the current bus transfer station at Park Central West
Time is also a factor in choosing a new transfer site, because if the city doesn’t act quickly, it could lose millions of dollars in federal aid. In 2006, $1.63 million was granted by the Federal Transit Administration for this project. Two years later, the FTA granted an additional $1.47 million. Each grant only has a life of three years, but can be renewed as long as the organization shows it is advancing the project.
Also, if the city chooses a site and finishes the proposal by June 15th, the city may receive $1.5 million in stimulus money.
As the clock ticks down, city officials are looking for a solution that benefits everyone. For KSMU News, I’m Matt Evans.
