The closure of the Guelph Bus Terminal on Macdonell happened on Tuesday July 5th. Apparently, not everyone got the memo. (ARTICLE UPDATED at 1:00am FRIDAY)
A notice on 81/2 by 11 paper was only posted on the doors a few days before the move. There is currently limited, if any, other signage to appeared anywhere directing buses, cars and pedestrians to the temporary terminal on Fountain Street. The ONLY signage anywhere near or on the temporary bus terminal seems to have appeared magically Thursday afternoon/night/Friday morning – even though it should have been there Tuesday!
When I appeared in front of city council earlier this year about the bus terminal move, city staff assured council that there would be proper signage and notices up. That seems to not have happen clearly, or on time, which is really frustrating.
Just reading the Thursday July 7th Tribune articles about buses missing pickup and pedestrians not finding the temporary station due to no signage, shows you how important it is to have the proper notices up for everyone before the move happened. there is also other small details that that need to be done, including phones, outdoor lights, bike racks (done), canopy, benches and signage saying the terminal is at this corner. It all seems rushed and it should not have been considering how many times the city delayed the move to this corner.
So here is my suggestions to make things smoother:
1) At the OLD Bus Terminal we need a couple of giant signs, like the ones used for zoning applications, posted near the site with a map and directional listing how to get to the temporary terminal on foot or car. Item done Thursday!
2) Directional signage, like the ones now up, should be posted along at least 3 different routes from the old bus terminal and in & around the temporary one. There should be ones for pedestrians and cars.
- Route One at the corner of Macdonell and Woolwich/Wellington (3 signs at each corner for the different directions left off Macdonell onto Wellington, right off Macdonell onto Wellington, straight down Woolwich onto Wellington going past River Run Centre, leading to the (now posted Thursday night) signage at Wellington and Lower Wyndham Streets (Fire Station) directing people to turn right (or left if coming up from other direction) and signs at the corner of Fountain and Lower Wyndham.
- Route Two along Macdonell/Wyndham Street (by VIA Rail) to Norfolk/Gordon Street corner (at 2 corners for turning left off McDonnell or going straight down Norfolk toward Farmers Market. Signage MUST be at this corner as many buses usually went up Wilson to get to old terminal. This leads to the signage that appeared Thursday night ate Fountain and Gordon Street in both directions as this is the main way into the terminal area.
- Route Three is for pedestrians. Due to the tunnel under the CN Bridge being closed until the fall, the map of suggestion routes should be posted at both sites and signage along both routes be posted up.
The other big issue is there is only small signage saying that this temporary portable is actually the temporary bus terminal. How is anyone going to know? I encourage this to be solved with larger signage asap.
There is also confusion amongst bus drivers of where to pick up & drop off people. I just got off a bus tonight where they parked on Fountain Street instead of along the paved area on Lower Wyndham Street. Proper directional signage is needed for that and on the platforms (paint something on the pavement!). Taxis also need to be directed properly and a clear pickup/drop of area for cars.
All of this, plus the small things such as a outdoor public pay phone etc., are important and should have been done with setting up of this much delayed temporary bus terminal. With University students returning in September, it is vital that we address these issues now and not later because I do not want to see 1000′s of students totally lost because of the lack of a simple sign.
