By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — 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.

"I am unconcerned about the Republican resolution," said Kimberly Hobson, the county's Public Transit Office program specialist. "The transit center was given the go-ahead on Jan. 17 and it has tremendous community support.

"It seems odd that their platform says that they believe transportation is an integral part of our commerce and industry, yet they pass this kind of resolution."

There was a total of 143,111 rides on Citylink in Kootenai County in fiscal year 2016.

The first phase of the transit center is estimated to cost $2,056,360. The Federal Transit Administration will fund $1,645,088 while the local match is estimated at $411,272.

The resolution also states the future center could be an "attractive nuisance" for crime, will place ongoing liabilities on the county and offer no direct benefit to the majority of Kootenai County residents. KCRCC Chairman Brent Regan noted the words "attractive nuisance" refers to a legal doctrine.

But Coeur d'Alene police Chief Lee White said county staff leading the transit center charge have worked cooperatively with law enforcement to ensure the construction of a transit center addressees safety.

It's unclear how much of the transit center controversy will come up at Tuesday's hearing, but White said he plans to speak.

"If all they're talking about is upgrading the current system, including with what's been proposed, I don't have any concerns with this," he said, adding the improvements should actually increase safety with better lighting and security cameras.

White said his agency responded to 14 calls at the existing Citylink hub in Riverstone in the past six months.

"Two were parking problems, two were welfare checks and two were citizen assists," he said. "There's just not a lot of crime associated with that bus stop."

Post Falls police Chief Scot Haug said it's a similar situation in that city.

"From the police department’s perspective, the benefits of the Citylink system to our community far outweigh the minor issues that we have experienced," he said. "In the past, we have received a few complaints related to unruly riders and a few concerns about bus stop locations, but the county staff has done a good job working with law enforcement around the county addressing the concerns."

Where White said he'd have a concern is if the Spokane Transit Authority system ever tied into the transit center.

Hobson said while the county receives a lot of calls from area residents about the desire for connectivity, there are no plans to do that in the foreseeable future.

"Even if STA had plans and funding to allow them to cross the border, connecting Coeur d'Alene and Spokane would require a tremendous amount of research, discussions with all the involved parties, the input of law enforcement and the direction of the (county commissioners)," she said. "In addition, after all that groundwork, there would be extensive public outreach required and an inter-government agency agreement involving the commissioners with the participating cities."

The transit center has been discussed for several years and the county and Coeur d'Alene Tribe purchased property for it three years ago. However, Regan doesn't believe the resolution has come late in the game.

"There are many more steps and many months before contractors break ground on construction," he said. "The Central Committee's action is timely and prompt when considering the timing of the county's community outreach (during open houses this month on the fare, route and hours proposals)."

Speaking as an individual, Regan said public transportation is about getting people from A to B as quickly and conveniently as practical with the funding and systems available.

"The new facility with its administrative offices and landscaping will have ongoing operational, maintenance and security costs, money that will not be available for providing services," he said. "Simply paving the existing parking area and installing an appropriate bus stop-style shelter will achieve all the benefits of the proposed transit center and administrative offices with a tenth of the costs. The money saved can go toward better service.

"Being opposed to the building of the proposed transit center does not mean you are opposed to public transportation. It simply means you are opposed to excessive government spending at the expense of the services to the public."

Hobson said she hopes what she calls "political rhetoric" will not cloud helping people who depend on the bus system.

"Maybe public transportation isn't as glamorous as funding the local airport, but if you sit on the buses for awhile you will find out that it means everything to some people," Hobson said. "This resolution doesn't help the senior who can't drive to the grocery store, the person going to dialysis who can’t afford an Uber three days a week and the single mom working two jobs. It just doesn't make Kootenai County a better place."

The controversy had led to a flurry of finger-pointing, including a flyer at the transit center that blames County Commissioner Marc Eberlein for caving in to politics and changing his stance on the transit center mid-stream.

Eberlein on Thursday responded to the accusation as "absolutely false" and that he's never been in favor of expanding the center.

"If somebody says that I'm a puppet of the Republican Party, forget it," he said.

Eberlein said the original design of the center was just the basics, but it has since been enhanced, making for a lot of unknowns, including costs.

Regarding Tuesday's hearing, a new $1.50 fare is proposed for urban fixed routes and $3 for paratransit service. There will be discounted passes available for those with low income, seniors and people with qualifying disabilities.

The fares would not pertain to the Citylink rural routes, including to the Coeur d'Alene Casino.

The Post Falls route is proposed to switch to a clockwise direction and, due to rider requests, stops are proposed to be added at the senior center and food bank.

"The proposed minimal fee to ride the bus and the revised bus routes will increase passenger safety and reduce, if not eliminate, many of the problems we have experienced," Haug said.

A proposed new A Route would run clockwise and cover downtown Coeur d'Alene with two stops on Hubbard Street near North Idaho College; Sherman Avenue at 16th, 21st and 23rd streets; on Ironwood in front of Shopko and the current Kootenai Health stop at 921 Ironwood.

The revised C Route (Coeur d'Alene/Dalton Gardens/Hayden) would no longer serve downtown. It would run clockwise only with new stops at Wilbur and Ramsey; Courcelles and Prairie; Government Way and Anton; Panhandle Health; Government and Hattie; Shopko and in the hospital district. The Pinegrove and Hanley stop would be eliminated.

For more detailed information and maps, visit http://bit.ly/2nWlPSt or call 446-2102 to have a map mailed.

Shortening the hours of operation for urban routes during the weekdays is being considered as well as possibly eliminating or compressing the Saturday or Sunday service.

Hobson said the changes are proposed to make the system sustainable and more efficient.

Written testimony on the proposed fares, route changes and hours of operation will be accepted by county commissioners until 5 p.m. on May 7. It can be sent to khobson@kcgov.us, mailed to P.O. Box 9000, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 or dropped off at 451 N. Government Way.