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Bus Riders Fight Colonie Center and CDTA for Bus Stops

Commuters who ride public buses to Colonie Shopping Center at Central Avenue and Wolf Road have criticized the recent action by Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) for moving bus stops away from the mall entrance. In a petition to both managements of CDTA and Colonie Center, bus riders/activists acting under the umbrella of Citizens for Transportation complain that the move has created untold hardships for riders—especially children, senior citizens, and the disabled who rely on the buses.

Clockwise from top left:: 1.) Busy intersection at Central Avenue bus stop 2.) Construction in front of mall and The Cheesecake Factory 3.) New CDTA bus driver Rob Lewis waiting for bus riders at the new bus stop on Wolf Road. 4.) Inside the new bus shelter a sign directs riders to the new walkway to the mall entrance.

Safety is a big concern due to heavy traffic at the intersections at both Central and Wolf. According to the Founder of Citizens for Transportation (CFT), Ms. Lucile Brewer, “It is dangerous for anyone to cross Wolf Road. Then you have to walk almost two kilometers. Bus stops used to be at the entrance of the mall,” Ms. Brewer said. She fears it will get worse for commuters this coming winter without shelters at the entrance.

Activist and retired Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Kenneth Williams, said the problems extend to Central Avenue. “CDTA main line routes do not go into the mall since May. For the disabled and elderly to walk from Central Avenue to Wolf Road is a recipe for disaster. We’re calling on authorities to do something urgently.”

A Waldenbooks employee, Ms. Theresa Kaddo, said tenants and employees who depend on pubic transportation are complaining. “Many mall employees use public buses. Now most come in late to work and business owners are complaining of sharp drops in sales. I am particularly concerned about kids and the elderly who risk their lives to cross those roads.”

A CDTA spokesperson explained the move was decided by the new owners of Colonie Shopping Mall—Mr. Larry Feldman of Feldman Mall Properties, Inc—because of their new construction project. Feldman buys “under performing” malls and improves them. The new owners will invest nearly $10 million on upgrades for the mall, including attracting new tenants and adding entertainment features.

Construction workers told The Informed Constituent at the scene that they were under the impression that bus stops would be moved back into the mall after the construction. They said bus fumes was an issue, too.

Some say The Cheesecake Factory (new to the mall) wanted the bus stop out in order to build their outside patio. A bus driver said Sears pushed the bus stop out due to complaints about exhaust fumes.

It would be recalled that CDTA made changes to some of its Albany bus route services earlier this year in May. Among the changes was the Central Avenue-Colonie Shopping Center route where public buses now operate on Wolf Road, a block away from Colonie Center to drop and pick up commuters.

In May, the CDTA Director of Strategic Planning, Kristina Younger, spoke to riders about the change in bus schedules, and explained that STAR buses (for the disabled) and shuttles would be at the doors of Colonie Center.

Recently, though, a CDTA shuttle bus driver (requesting anonymity), told The Informed Constituent that shuttle drivers are not allowed to drive into the mall. The driver said, “Imagine if your grandmother had to walk that distance. I can’t stand to see it, and I sometimes give them rides anyway... In my opinion, the mall views bus riders as low income and lower class.”

A five-year long driver for CDTA said the moving of the bus stops is going to be “a big problem for the disabled”. He explained that he’s been driving senior citizens from The Beltrone Living Center. “They are not happy at all. They have a lot of money to spend, believe me. I drive them to the bank.”

Ms. Brewer of CFT told the Informed Constituent that all efforts to convince the managements of both CDTA and Colonie Center to rescind its decision had failed so far, but they are “not giving up on the fight.”

Mr. Tim Maxwell, representative from the Capital District Center for Independence (CDCI), is advising CFT and believes more shuttle buses will be added after the new construction is complete. A lawyer representing CDCI and CFT is also involved. Meetings about the issue are being held regularly, and they plan on meeting with Mr. Feldman later in August.

Some believe the hardship for bus riders is only temporary until Feldman Properties completes the mall’s new design when the mall would be sold again. In the meantime, bus riders are shopping less at Colonie Center, and the mall could lose revenues in the short-term.

For updates and info: Citizens for Transportation (518) 436-1944 For more about Colonie Center construction project and plan for improvements: www.shopatcoloniecenter.com (518) 459-9020

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