http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/input-sought-planned-cu-bus-transfer-facility_85235.mp3
A few days ago, focus group meetings were held, which involved various stakeholders of a proposed bus transfer facility including City Utilities management, rider interest groups, the Ozarks Transportation Organization, downtown Springfield representatives and Springfield Police.
Tim Rosenbury, with Butler, Rosenbury and Partners, is heading the design team for the project. He says the focus group meetings were primarily listening sessions to help the designers understand what the criteria for a successful transit facility may be.
"The kind of criteria that they talked about was safe, spacious, well lit, convenient. They talked about it having a sense of dignity as a civic structure and that would perhaps increase ridership and maintain the existing riders," he said.
Other suggestions include an indoor waiting area and public restrooms including a family restroom.
Those ideas will be presented during public forum sessions next week. They’re planned over two days at various locations
"We'll also give people a chance to say, 'yes, you're on track' or 'no, here's some additional input.' And, so, what we're looking for as much as possible is to have an understanding of the facility needs from the facility stakeholders' perspective," he said.
He says from that they can do a design that’s responsible and responsive.
According to Rosenbury, the design work will be done this year, and construction of the bus transfer facility is expected to be complete in late 2015 or 2016 just north of the intersection of College and Main.
Public forum sessions will be held next Thursday (6/5) from 4 to 6 at the CU Transit Office, 1505 N. Boonville and Friday (6/6) from 11:30 to 1:30 at 319 N. Main and from 5 to 7 at 309 South Avenue.