VICTORVILLE — The bus stop at the Mall of Victor Valley, recently in danger of being plucked from circulation, unsafely blocks the flow of traffic and needs to move, the mall's management company says.Macerich Victor Valley LP issued a notice of termination of license for the bus stop June 2, offering to extend the bus stop's terminate date to Sept. 4. But the Victor Valley Transit Authority board approved a letter agreement with the company Monday that will buy the two sides more time to work things out.Mall Property Manager Laura Andre said Monday that Macerich has first and foremost sought to put a contract in place between the company and VVTA for operations on mall property, a deal that currently does not exist. Alternatively, she said the company had provided several options for VVTA to move its bus stop to a location that Macerich deems more suitable.
The stop is currently located on the west side of the mall near the food court.
"We've been asking VVTA for quite some time now to relocate that bus stop and that's where we are today," Andre told the Daily Press. "It's a safety issue for us because it impedes on the one lane that people drive on and it forces people to drive into oncoming traffic to get around the bus.
"Something has to give as far as the current location they have today."
VVTA Executive Director Kevin Kane said the authority has already "agreed to work with (Macerich) to move the bus stop" to a safe, accessible location, preferably still on mall grounds since VVTA hasn't yet been able to identify an appropriate on-street site.
Kane, who has been with VVTA for 18 years, said he can't remember ever having a contract with the mall, but added that the bus stop has moved four or five times during his tenure.
"Trying to get us to leave completely is new," he said, "but relocating is not."
He said he is willing to ask the VVTA board to appropriate funding for the relocation. A full-time security guard for the bus stop has already been budgeted for the fiscal year.
The board's decision Monday, an emergency item, indemnifies Macerich for any activity occurring at the bus stop, while Macerich agreed to revoke its notice of termination for the bus stop. The corresponding moves also effectively cancel a VVTA public hearing planned on the matter next month, Kane said.
"I don't know what the future will hold," he said, "but we are feeling really good about coming to a mutually agreeable resolution."
Andre echoed that sentiment.
"Our intent," she said, "has always been to work with VVTA."