PORT ANGELES — Clallam Transit is holding firm in its decision to keep the new bus stops where they are near the Walmart Supercenter east of Port Angeles.
Transit officials concede that the bus stops at the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Kolonels Way are less convenient for Walmart shoppers than the former bus stop at the front door of the old Walmart, which closed Oct. 26.
General Manager Terry Weed said it’s a liability to operate large buses on private property, and the Supercenter at 3471 E. Kolonels Way wasn’t designed to safely accommodate them.
He has also said that Clallam Transit is not a door-to-door service, and keeping the bus stops on the highway is consistent with the philosophy of mass transit.
“It is possible to go around behind the store, but that is not something we want to do,” Weed said, adding that the buses could get blocked by delivery trucks.
“The liability continues to be our big issue.”
A status update on the Walmart bus stops is on the agenda for today’s Clallam Transit board meeting for informational purposes, Weed said.
The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Clallam Transit System building at 830 W. Lauridsen Blvd.
“Potentially we could discuss it, but no action is anticipated,” he said.
After some initial feedback from customers, Weed said: “We have heard very little from transit riders in the last month.”
When the new Walmart opened on Oct. 27, some riders said it’s too dangerous to cross the highway from the eastbound stop of the No. 30 Sequim commuter bus.
In early November, Weed and Clallam Transit board member Patrick Downie rode the No. 30 bus with Sue Liedtke of Forks, who is blind.
They crossed the highway and walked two-tenths of a mile to the department store and supermarket on Nov. 2.
Downey and Weed said the pedestrian light is too short and there is no siren at the crossing. They also noted the lack of a sidewalk on the Walmart side of Kolonels Way.
Safer crossing
The Clallam Transit board discussed the issue at its November board meeting and decided to engage state Transportation and Walmart to try to improve the safety of the crossing.
Walmart Manager Becky McDonald submitted a letter to Clallam Transit on Nov. 5 that offered three possible routes for a transit bus to navigate through the parking lot.
McDonald — who could not be reached for comment Friday, Saturday or Sunday — offered a tour of the parking lot to give transit officials a sense of her suggestions.
Weed and Operations Manager Clint Wetzel took her up on the offer and met with Walmart staff on Nov. 18.
“None of the suggested options were acceptable to CTS staff for logistical, practical, or liability reasons,” Weed wrote in a follow-up memo to the Clallam Transit board.
“The property and the store layout was simply not designed to efficiently and safely accommodate 40′ transit buses. It was noted during our visit that accommodation for a stop for the smaller paratransit service vehicles was in place and working well,” Wetzel wrote.
Bremerton-based Paratransit Services is a specialized van that provides door-to-door transportation for anyone who qualifies as disabled or is older than 80 years.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Tom Callis contributed to this report.