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l ~ ~ ~ ~ ' Trans~t/Stat~on s relocat~on roblemat~c p Continued trom Page i B Before any ground is b,roken, a new station's impact on air and noise pollution, traf~ic flow, low-income housing and histori- cal areas must be detailed. The presence of hazardous mater- ials also must be determined. But rather than studying a preferred site and an alterna- tive, a consulting company may have to study the four sites. District officials must move quickly or risk losing $2 million in federal money for a project. To get the money, they must make a detailed grant request by September 1996. Transit officials for years have sought a new and perma- nent site for a transfer station. The station's current site, along the 100 block of High Street NE, was supposed to have been temporary when built in 1983. When considered as the prime spot for a transit mall six years ago, the Senator block drew intense criticism from op- ponents. They contended that such a project would displace low-income residents. Others objected because businesses would be forced out. While those objections con- tinue to surface, a new problem plagues the Senator: money. The block's main owner and occupant - Marion County - would have to move. That could happen only if voters pass a$45 million facilities bond measure next month. Some of the money would be used to relocate of- fices. "If it doesn't pass, I'd say we're not going to go any- where," said Commissioner What's next The board of the Salem Area Mass Transit District meets at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at 3140 Del Webb Ave. NE. The meeting may last beyond the last scheduled bus run, but district oificiais pledge a free ride home to anyone who needs one. Gary Heer. "We're stuck." Even if the bond measure passes, timing would be a prob- lem, Heer said. It could take up to three years for the county to move all its off`ices off the block. Denny Moore, the transit dis- trict's interim general man- ager, said the district would have to work with federal of- ficials to come up with an ac- ceptable timeline for the project - and three years might be jus- tified. The timing issue appeared to be a major hurdle to many com- mittee members, including Mike Swaim, of the Downtown Development Board. Swaim also had other concerns. "There's existing low-cost housing that is there, and you would displace that," he said. In one scenario, the Senator building would be razed to build a transit station. The building has about 45 low- income tenants who pay about $120 to $130 a month rent. But Heer said the building is in poor condition, and it would be torn down sooner or later anyway. "The building itself has to be phased out," he said. "It doesn't have a lot of life left in it." Finding transit station home takes 15 years 1980: City of Salem identifies Senator block and Chemeketa Street as best sites for a transit station. August 1983: ~ansit dis- trict moves to current transfer site on High Street. Called Cherriot Station, it is supposed to be a 5- to 8-year temporary site. The move is forced by a re- design of downtown traffic flows, which makes previous on-street transfer arrange- ments unworkable. Daily rider- ship is 7,000 to 8,000. 1985: An independent con- sultant's study confirms that the Senator block is the best site for transit station. 1980-1985: Lack of financing and consensus means no action is taken on transit site se- lection. 1989: The transit district feels increasing pressure to re- locate. The board tries to ini- tiate some activity on Senator block and holds public hearings to gauge the downtown and public mood. The relocation plan and the district itself roundly are criticized, delaying site selection process. 1990: Outside consultants re- confirm previous studies on the Senator block; transit district studies Marion Parkade. 1991: The transit district studies closing off High Street entirely for transfer station. 1993: $2 million in federal money is earmarked for down- town transfer station. Daily ridership reaches 13,000, then falls to 12,000 after fare in- creases in 1994. ~ October 1894: The transit board chooses the Odd Fellow~ block instead of Marion Park- ade as its preferred site for fur- ther study. A design concept is developed. But in order to build the transfer station, the Odd Fellows Building would have to be razed, alarming advceates of historic preservation and the performing arts. February 1995: Transit of- ficials stop further moves to ac- quire the Odd Fellows site. Its designation as a historical site ultimatel~ dooms this selection. July 10: The Downtown ~Yansit Center Advisory Com- mittee holds first meeting to choose a transfer site. The com- mittee forms a task force that reviews 15 possible locations. Aug. 9: The task force recom- mends to the advisory commit- tee that the Senator block be chosen as the preferred site. Wednesday: The advisory committee cannot reach con- sensus, instead forwarding three possible sites to the tran- sit board for consideration: the Washington Mutual block, the Greyhound block and the Sena- tor block.