Will the Locust Street bus stop be relocated?

Officials are considering relocating the Locust Street bus stop.

The Locust Street bus stop is back on the borough’s radar, and officials are considering relocating it, noting several concerns. 

Mayor Leo Lutz addressed the concerns at the June 10th borough council meeting. Lutz said he recently stood under the awning at the front of the municipal building with two men waiting for the bus during “pouring down rain.” He said he watched as the men boarded without difficulty when the bus arrived at the bus stop. Lutz noted there had been a concern that bus patrons waiting at the building wouldn’t be able to reach the bus in time when it arrived.

“The issue of not being able to leave from here and get on the bus to me don’t hold water,” Lutz said, noting that passengers had adequate time to approach and board the vehicle. [Some bus patrons wait under the awning during rain, especially since the canopied bus shelter was removed due to “vagrancy, safety, and hygiene issues” on March 26, 2025 by the South Central Transit Authority, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.]

Lutz also claimed that the current bus stop location creates traffic and safety problems. When buses stop to pick up passengers, they block Market Street, impeding police vehicles that need to access the street to reach the police station for parking, according to Lutz. 

On Saturdays, pedestrians leaving the bus stop or Market House must navigate around stopped buses, sometimes stepping into traffic to check for oncoming vehicles before crossing, Lutz said. “They’re going around the bus and stepping out, sticking their head out in back of the bus to see if there’s any cars coming.” The buses also block access to the Market House parking lot, compounding traffic issues, Lutz noted.

Problems increase when the Rabbit Transit bus queues behind the regular RRTA bus, creating more congestion. “The chief and I stood and watched that, so there is a problem there, and it’s a safety problem,” Lutz said.

To address these issues, borough officials are considering relocating the bus stop up at the next corner where there’s an intersection with a traffic light.

About Town – June 15, 2025

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

Passing through 

Two more from Wednesday’s arrests…

Men at work 

Down by the riverside 

Upcoming 

A lone petunia in a beauty strip

Does that work?

Only vehicles with trailers are permitted in this section. 

A little later, the WGAL van had moved over to the side parking lot.

A disconnected hydrant at 3rd & Maple

A little later, it looked like this. 

Art from a featured artist

The featured artist is Dee Zimmerman, who was at the town square on Saturday. 

Leftovers 

A visitor to River Park

Saint James Lutheran at 10th & Manor 

The Candy Man’s here!

It’s time for this dancer to come down off the pole.

Yep, more rain

Get a tattoo on Locust. 

Destination: DC?

Sons of Theocracy 

A common sight around town 

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Juneteenth celebration draws a crowd at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia

About 150 people gathered at Lancaster Distilleries on North 4th Street in Columbia on Sunday to commemorate Juneteenth.

About 150 people gathered at Lancaster Distilleries on North 4th Street Sunday afternoon commemorate Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Columbia’s Brad Chambers organized and emceed the event.

Columbia resident Brad Chambers, who previously ran for Pennsylvania State House in the 41st district, organized Sunday’s event and served as master of ceremonies. The celebration featured a series of speakers who addressed the historical significance of the black experience in America, covering topics from slavery through modern civil rights legislation.

Mekkai Williams is a 20-year-old Democratic candidate for the Hempfield School District school board

Among the featured speakers was Mekkai Williams, a 20-year-old Democratic candidate for the Hempfield School District school board. Williams, who graduated from Hempfield High School in 2022, represents a new generation of political engagement.

Izzy Smith-Wade-El spoke off-the-cuff about the end of slavery, and civil rights during the period of 1965-75.

The event also featured remarks from Izzy Smith Wade-El, who currently serves as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 49th district. Wade-El was elected in November 2022 and assumed office on December 1 of that year.

Ahmed, who has served on the Lancaster City Council since December 2022, spoke of his experiences as a former refugee from Chad, Africa. 

Lancaster City Councilman Ahmed Ahmed also addressed the crowd. Ahmed has served on the Lancaster City Council since December 2022, with his current term extending through January 2026.

Music was provided by “Mama Tried.”

The gathering at Lancaster Distilleries represents part of a broader national observance of Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021 and commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Texas.