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Residents and neighborhood groups urge delay of proposed South Pearl bus terminal, cite health and process concerns
Summary
Dozens of residents and local leaders spoke during public comment opposing a proposed relocation of a downtown bus terminal to South Pearl Street, citing lack of community input, absence of environmental and traffic studies, and potential respiratory-health impacts; the legislature referred the developer agreement back to committee for further review.
During an extended public comment period at the June 8 meeting, multiple South End residents, neighborhood leaders and professionals urged the Albany County Legislature to pause or reject a proposed relocation of the downtown bus terminal to 106 South Pearl Street (site of a former McDonald's). Speakers voiced health, safety and process concerns and asked for additional community engagement.
Speakers said the RFP process and developer selection proceeded without meaningful public input and that public meetings were scheduled after an award had already been made. Former county senior planner Laura Travisin said community-generated planning data had already produced thousands of data points and asked legislators to pause action until the county and the Advance Albany County Alliance explained selection criteria and how previously collected input was considered.
Residents described existing environmental burdens in the South End neighborhood and cited a prior Ezra Prentiss study showing particulate impacts from heavy truck traffic. Willie White said the proposal risked worsening asthma and respiratory illness rates in a neighborhood already adjacent to the Port of Albany and other heavy-traffic sources. Multiple speakers asked for an environmental impact study, a traffic study, and a standing community advisory committee to monitor impacts and operations.
Opponents also suggested alternative sites, including repurposing existing facilities in the Empire State Plaza concourse to reduce cost and concentrate services. Local business owners and some neighborhood association leaders urged high design standards if redevelopment proceeds: energy-efficient, net-zero-ready construction and transit-oriented design rather than simply reusing the existing McDonald's building.
In response to the comments and because a community meeting by the Advance Albany County Alliance was scheduled for the following evening, the chair and legislators voted to take resolution 227 (authorizing an agreement with Advance Albany County Alliance regarding development at 106 South Pearl Street) out of order and then referred it to Audit & Finance for additional review instead of advancing the agreement immediately.
The public speakers' concerns focused on process transparency and environmental justice; no formal environmental or traffic study was presented at the meeting. The legislature did not adopt or reject a terminal location at this session; the matter was referred for further review.
