TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — While the city of Tallahassee has big plans to put a super bus station on the southside, the people in the area say they don't want it.
The city plans to put the South City Transit Center on the corner of Orange Avenue and Meridian Street. But the site is currently home to a temporary park while the city works on developments plans for the bus center.
The people living here say they would rather have a bigger park than have a bus station move into the neighborhood.
"We got two bus stops right here already," said Michael Mitchell. "We got the D bus stop and we got the L bus stop."
Like Michael Mitchell, many people on Tallahassee's southside aren't excited about plans to put a super bus stop in the neighborhood. Back in September, the city put up a temporary park where the South City Transit Center will eventually go.
"If you're going to do something about this park, do it right," said Joanne Crump.
"When it come down to this park, this is good," Mitchell explained. "This is an outlet. I study over here."
Now, neighbors are used to the park and say they would rather see upgrades to it like lots of places to sit, a gazebo, and a performance stage.
"Please give us a couple of grills over here," said Mitchell.
But the City plans to roll-out the transit center at that corner of Meridian Street and Orange Avenue. That center would include a waiting area for bus riders, office space, an information booth, and a place to charge up buses.
And the park would move to the lot across the street.
But Mitchell says there's a simpler way to address transportation on the south side without moving the park.
"They need to change these bus routes," said Mitchell. "They need to change them to accommodate people's work schedules."
The city won't start building the South City Transit Center for another year and a half to two years.
The City Commission will talk about all of this at Wednesday's meeting. For anyone who would like to voice their thoughts, the meeting will be held at 4 p.m. in City Hall.
