Cornell transportation officials have announced that a temporary bus stop has been added on East Avenue, by Stimson Hall, to address the needs of southbound passengers generated by the Sage Hall renovation project.

"Currently," said William Wendt, director of Cornell's Office of Transportation Services, "transit passengers approaching from the north [the Day Hall area], must cross the street twice in order to approach the Sage Hall shelter."

Since the early planning phases of the Sage renovation project, Cornell transportation officials have been examining the effects the construction site and fencing would have on pedestrian, cyclist, automobile and transit traffic on East Avenue. The bus stop near Sage Hall has attracted particular attention because of the sidewalk closure north of the stop.

The shelter by Sage will remain open. This stop functions well and benefits passengers from the university's Engineering Quad and Statler Hotel. Bus riders who come from north of the construction site may find the Stimson stop more convenient.

As the Stimson stop is temporary, no shelter will be constructed. Transit patrons who prefer a shelter and whose destination is west or south, such as Collegetown or downtown, can use the Goldwin Smith Hall bus shelter on East Avenue. Eastbound riders (heading toward the College of Veterinary Medicine) can use the shelter at Tower Road and Garden Avenue.

"We are going to carefully monitor the Stimson stop for safety issues, as the intersection of East Avenue and Tower Road is heavily traveled -- particularly by pedestrians," Wendt said. Because Tower Road is closed and the buses will be stopped at the stop sign, few problems are anticipated initially. Wendt added, "When Tower Road reopens, and the Sage project is not yet complete, the safety of the temporary stop will need to be reevaluated."

To pedestrians walking south along East Avenue for any reason, Wendt said, "I would implore you to cross the street in the designated areas, rather than walking in the road. Pedestrians who choose to walk along the fencing are endangering themselves as well as cyclists and motorists." This danger, Wendt adds, will only become greater as the volume of trucks removing construction debris through the project gate on East Avenue increases.

A copy of this article has been mailed to concerned bus riders and has been posted in the Sage Hall bus shelter.