Mayor Lutz: ‘The bus stop will remain where it is'

The bus stop on the 300 block of Locust Street 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

After months of discussion about relocating the Locust Street bus stop, Mayor Leo Lutz said that the stop will remain where it is. In addition, officials are exploring the possibility of installing a canopy at the stop.

"Here's the bottom line. The bus stop will remain where it is,” Lutz said at last week's council work session. “And we're looking at possibly putting a canopy up." Lutz added that a canopy installation would depend on council approval, finding a design that matches the bus stop, and price. The proposed canopy would remain open on all sides.

As recently as last June, officials were considering moving the bus stop to the next corner where there's an intersection with a traffic light, due to safety and traffic concerns at the current site.

The South Central Transit Authority had removed the 20-year-old shelter at the bus stop on March 26 at the request of borough officials, due to unsanitary conditions. Police Chief Jack Brommer had requested that SCTA conduct a site survey, but "it was ultimately the bus authority's decision to remove it," according to Brommer.

The bus stop serves RRTA's Route 17, which runs between Lancaster City and Marietta and ranks as RRTA's second most popular route. A Rabbit Transit bus also stops at the location.