Remi Renaud, Transit Manager at the City of North Bay admits that he traditionally will receive more complaints than he will get thank you’s.
However, this year Renaud says they are getting positive feedback about the new sidewalks and bus shelters, especially the two on Shirreff and McKeown Avenues.
The new construction came after complaints from citizens who felt the bus stops in those areas in particular, could not be accessed due to large snow banks and the lack of sidewalks.
See related: That promised sidewalk, it's coming
See related: Bus stop beef breakthrough
“We have been hearing some good things, especially along Shirreff Avenue and a section on McKeown Avenue,” noted Renaud.
“In the summer time it is fine when you are just walking along the shoulder it’s great but the challenge of course is during the winter with snowbanks so what this has done is it has eliminated those snow banks, we have a sidewalk people can safely walk along and to get to the bus stops.”
Renaud says it also allows city crews to clear away snow that builds up near the snowbanks.
“Our sidewalk plows can now clear those areas so we are getting some good positive feedback from our clients in regards to that,” he said.
Renaud says new bus shelters have been a welcome addition too.
“We have had some good feedback on the bus shelters we have put in place in certain spots, Shirreff Avenue being one of them because that is actually one of our transfer points so it is good to have a shelter there for them on McKeown and the Birchaven area so we have had some good things there,” said Renaud.
