Michigan Soo may sue over bridge bus

The City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan may use the courts to ensure that the bridge bus continues, City Attorney Steve Cannello says.

Tonight's edition of the Soo Evening News quotes Cannello as saying that legal action is possible against the Michigan Department of Transportation to force the Joint International Bridge Authority JIBA to continue the bus.

However, the cost of any lawsuit would be significantly greater than the $40,000 annual cost of running the bridge bus, so out-of-court alternative measures will definitely be considered, Cannello said.

For example, Sault Michigan Mayor Anthony Bosbous would like to see JIBA instead raise the toll paid by vehicles to cross the bridge.

Just a two percent increase in bridge tolls would be more than adequate to pay for the bridge bus, Bosbous says.

Unless a solution can be found, the bridge bus is expected to stop service on April 1.

To read the Soo Evening News article, please click here.

SooToday.com background articles on this issue

Bridge Bus change may be illegal, City Manager says Bridge officials to review bus currency switch Authorities back down on Bridge Bus plan Authorities review Bridge Bus schedule for 'efficiencies' Bridge bus will be axed by April 1 Sault, Michigan politicians fight to save bridge bus Bridge Authority offers to waive tolls for bus