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Council votes to oppose Southland Mall bus-stop removal after ADA concerns raised
Summary
City council unanimously approved a resolution opposing Southland Mall management's plan to remove a SMART bus stop after disability advocates and transit riders warned the change could impair access and may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Advocates urged temporary relief while parties negotiate.
Taylor City Council voted to approve a resolution opposing Southland Mall management's plan to remove a SMART bus stop that advocates say provides the only accessible connection to the mall for many riders with disabilities.
"I believe that's an ADA violation," said John Waterman, executive director of PEAK, as he described students and adults who rely on the stop to reach the mall and neighborhood services. Waterman said SMART (regional transit) notified riders the stop would be removed on Nov. 10 and asked the council for emergency action, a site plan, and a public hearing so riders would not be dismissed.
Why it matters: speakers at the meeting described the stop as a lifeline for riders who cannot travel long distances or who rely on transit for independence. Robert Pawlowski, a longtime regional transit advocate, said a petition supporting the stop gathered roughly 453 signatures and emphasized the stop’s role in connecting people to jobs and services.
Council action and next steps: Councilman Johnson moved and Councilwoman Daniels supported the resolution opposing the removal; the council approved the motion on a voice vote. The resolution is advisory to the mall and to SMART; corporation counsel and community advocates discussed legal options including a temporary injunction to extend the timeline for discussion, but no court action had been initiated at the meeting.
Responses and claims: advocates said the mall rejected SMART's offers to repair concrete, relocate the stop to another area of the lot, or accept a payment to maintain a stop area. Council members said they lacked detailed data supplied by the mall about safety and operations and asked for further discussion among the parties. Corporation counsel suggested seeking a temporary injunction if needed "to give you more time and give them all more time so that parties can get together" so negotiations could proceed instead of an abrupt removal.
Public reaction: several residents and advocacy organizations, including Transportation Riders United and TransNationRise United, urged the council to back riders. Petra Mahalco, communications manager for TransNationRise United, thanked the council for the resolution and noted broad community support.
What to watch: advocates asked the council to press for discussions among SMART, mall management and local police/security, and to consider legal measures if negotiations fail before the Nov. 10 date mentioned by speakers.
