BRIAN P. SULLIVAN
WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance Committee of the City Council has slated a public meeting to discuss a proposed ordinance to move downtown bus stops and eliminate parking on Elm Street in front of the Westfield Athenaeum and United Bank.
L&O Chairman Brian Sullivan slated the public meeting for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The meeting, which is open to residents and stakeholders affected by the bus stop plan, will be held in the City Council Chambers.
“This will be an opportunity for members of the public to weigh in on these proposed changes and to ask questions,” Sullivan said. “The city has requested the PVTA (Pioneer Valley Transit Authority) to send a representative to provide information to council members and members of the public.
MARY L. O’CONNELL
Sullivan said that the proposed ordinance was requested by the PVTA because of modification in their service from downtown to the campus of Westfield State University and between Westfield and Springfield.
A proposed ordinance “relative to codifying bus stops and taxi stands in the city of Westfield” was submitted to the council last week under communication from the mayor portion of the agenda and referred to the L&O for further review.
The proposed bus stop and parking changes sparked concern by several members of the City Council. Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell suggested that the City Council conduct a formal public hearing process.
RALPH FIGY
“This ordinance makes changes downtown,” O’Connell said. “It takes four parking spaces at the library and United Bank for two years for a bus stop.”
The Elm Street site will be used for a bus stop until construction of the PVTA facility on Arnold Street is completed.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy said the proposed bus stops also eliminates a taxi stand on Elm Street and the two Main Street bus stops in front of Rocky’s Ace Hardware and the Stop & Shop supermarket, but will increase parking spaces on the north side of Main Street (in front of Rocky’s) that will become available to patrons of the nearby Senior Center.
Sullivan responded to O’Connell’s request by stating that his committee will conduct an informational meeting and that he, as chairman, will exercise his discretion to allow participation by all in attendance.
BRIAN HOOSE
“It should be a public meeting, not a public hearing,” Sullivan said. “The meeting is more informal, but still enables people to comment and get information.”
Ward 3 Councilor and Off-street Parking Commission Chairman Brian Hoose said the ordinance is being proposed to address Westfield State University transportation of students between downtown and the campus.
“The university plans to have a shuttle bus going between downtown and the campus every 20 minutes,” Hoose said. “They are utilizing a full-sized bus, not a smaller bus. The idea is to consolidate all of the bus stops in one space, and add more parking on Main Street in front of the Senior Center.”
