by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
People who park at the Kings Avenue Garage and use the Skyway to get to work got some good news this week when service to the southernmost stop was restored.
A March 11 fire destroyed much of the roof over the platform and damaged the elevator and escalator at Riverplace Boulevard Station. As soon as the preliminary fire investigation and damage assessment was complete the process of demolishing the structure was begun.
JTA provided a shuttle bus that served the Kings Avenue to Central Station (near the AT&T Building and the Omni Hotel) route, so people who pay monthly for parking on the Southbank could still get to work on the Northbank.
While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, JTA spokesperson Mike Miller said it was most likely an electrical malfunction.
Eventually the station will be returned to service and will be designed to match the previous station, but that may be a while.
“It’s not even out for bid yet, so we don’t have a date when Riverplace will reopen,” said Miller.
Miller also said less flammable materials than were originally used will be specified in the bid package for the new platform cover.
At least one person who leaves his vehicle on the Southbank and works on the Northbank is taking the inconvenience in stride. Richard Thalleen has been parking at Kings Avenue, riding the elevated electric train to Central Station and then walking about three blocks to his office at Independent Square for the past four years. He said the shuttle buses that ran after the fire didn’t keep a very consistent schedule, so he found a new place to park near the San Marco Skyway Station.
“I’m parking about two blocks further away from the Skyway now than I was at Kings Avenue, but my doctor has been telling me I need to walk more. Now I do,” said Thalleen.
356-2466