NRTA seeks added bus space on Washington Street
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Without a centralized transportation hub to take shuttle buses off downtown streets and restore vehicle parking, Nantucket Regional Transit Authority director Paula Leary is seeking a 15-foot bus stop extension on Washington Street for some of her fleet, knowing full well that the request will draw opposition.

Leary's Feb. 5 proposal to the Traffic Safety Committee will be reviewed by the selectmen tonight. She is asking for the extra 15 feet because her four new buses are four feet longer than the 25-foot Eldorado FE shuttles that make up the majority of NRTA's 17- bus fleet. The bus industry has stopped making the shorter buses, she said, adding that eventually all the shuttles will be longer. The increased space is needed to allow the buses to safely maneuver in and out of the Washington Street stop between mid-May and Columbus Day.

But safety is also a priority for bus stop abutter Beth Brooks, whose residence borders on both Union and Washington streets and whose son runs Force Five in a part of the building. Brooks, who in the past expressed issues with the bus stop location, including noise, litter and use of her property as an outdoor restroom, has hired attorney Jamie Ranney to represent her concerns. The primary matter entails whether, with a bus parked directly at the edge of her off-street parking spot on Washington Street, lack of visibility will create a danger when trying to leave her driveway without hitting another vehicle or a passing bike rider.

There are eight downtown locations where buses park between loops: Broad Street in front of the Whaling Museum, at the corner of Main and Washington streets next to Ralph Lauren, and on Salem and Washington streets. Leary said she is aware of the parking shortage downtown, but presents her own argument against blaming the buses for the problem.

"That's the purpose of the buses. The more people that are on the bus the more parking spaces there are," she said. "I think people forget what

we're here for." I