Red Deer’s new downtown transit terminal is receiving a thumbs up from bus riders for its added amenities and protection from the outdoor elements.
The terminal, located at 49th Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets, opened on Sunday.
Several regular users of city transit said this week that they are pleased with the permanent building after using the temporary terminal a short distance away for more than a year.
Jen Hodge said she’s glad the terminal is back. It was shut down after construction began on the Sorensen Station parkade on top of the terminal.
“It’s easier to get around and it’s in a better location,” said the 28-year-old city resident. “It’s more downtown.”
Tanya Barker, 24, of Red Deer, agrees the permanent transit terminal is in a better location than the temporary one, which was farther east from the downtown core.
“It’s a lot better now because there are washrooms and there is shelter,” said Barker. “It will be a lot better when the winter comes. . . the fact that they made this (parkade) up there, makes it a lot better than what it was before.”
The transit terminal has several shelters, plus the roof of the parkade will protect people from the sun, wind and some of the cold that will blast through come winter.
Nina Jurgec, 16, of Red Deer, said she got used to the temporary terminal.
“I’ve been only coming to this new one a couple of times but I think it’s cool,” she said. “It’s shady, which is nice for summertime and it’s not too far from where the temporary one was.”
Catie Januska found it frustrating that cars were travelling through the temporary terminal area when they weren’t supposed to be. The 27-year-old Red Deer woman uses the bus regularly for school and work.
“And it’s nice that this one has washrooms,” she added. “The other one didn’t, they did have one for staff but the public wasn’t allowed to use it. It makes a difference for little kids, especially when they can’t wait for their next destination.”
Transit facilities superintendent Steve Parkin said he hasn’t heard any complaints from bus drivers.
“From our staff, it seems like things are working fine,” Parkin said.
The terminal was built in 2002 with a separate washroom building. That still stands, along with staff washrooms in the administrative space of the terminal.
A commissionaire will be on site, as was the case before, to watch for any loitering, Parkin added.
The improved facility will house a customer service centre, slated to open on Sept. 1, where riders can buy passes and tickets or ask questions, and inquire about lost and found.
A kiosk on the ground floor’s northwest corner will offer beverages, snacks and other convenience items.
Parking co-ordinator Fred Dieno said the timeline for the kiosk opening is unknown because the city must find an operator.
He hopes the three-storey parkade will open on Aug. 30. It will have just over 400 parking stalls, 100 of which will offer hourly rates while the remainder will be assigned stalls.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com