Citylink transit fight heats up

At an open house at the Coeur d’Alene Library April 12, local GOP chairman Brent Regan and a number of other local Republicans attended to hear discussion of the proposed Riverstone Citylink Transit Center. Among those in attendance were, left to right, Transit Director Jody Bieze, Republican Central Committee Chairman Brent Regan, Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon, Kootenai County Deputy Clerk Jennifer Locke, unidentifiable person, Former State Senator and Representative Kathy Sims, unidentifiable person. (Duane Rasmussen photo)

A Republican group’s effort to halt construction of a transit center in Riverstone doesn’t appear to have fazed Kootenai County transit staff, who are forging ahead with the project.

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee has passed a resolution urging county commissioners to suspend the planned construction “until a need for the transit center is established, the recurring costs are well-defined and the cost-to-benefit is justified.”

The action comes just before Tuesday’s public hearing that will be held before the commissioners on proposed route changes, hours of operation and new fares for Citylink, the area’s public bus system. The hearing is at 6 p.m. in Rooms 1A and 1B in the county’s Administration Building, 451 N. Government Way.

The first phase of the transit center is also expected to go out to bid in May with construction estimated to start in March 2018. The first phase will include about 2,500 square feet of office space, a bus pull-through area, covered seating, paved parking and security cameras/ Brian Walker , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

• Here’s the minutes of the April 2 county commissioner meeting dealing with the transit center.