After the arrival of Greyhound Bus Lines caused the the elimination of several parking spaces along Langdon Street throughout the past several weeks, city officials have intervened to begin solving the controversy.

The Transit and Parking Commission took up the issue of how to deal with the increased traffic in the area caused by the University of Wisconsin’s January decision to allow Greyhound bus company to operate ten express routes out of the Memorial Union each day.

A number of committee members said they were concerned the additional stop increased area traffic to an unsafe extent, posing potential safety hazards to students who frequent the popular campus street.

Committee members said there has been a recent problem with buses double parking along Langdon. They also said the buses have lingered for longer than allowed and blocked pedestrian walking paths, posing a safety threat to students.

“We really felt that this was a serious public safety issue at hand,” Keith Pollock, Transportation Operations Analyst, said. “Something needed to be done and done quickly.”

In anticipation of the increased traffic, UW removed eight parking spots to create another bus spot on Langdon in front of the Red Gym. The extra bus spot was intended to decrease the congestion and increase safety in the area.

Removing the metered spots had been a source of debate, committee member Kenneth Streit said. The spots previously served as a source of revenue for the city, causing concerns for committee members.

“You’ve added one more space, but it sounds like regardless of Greyhound, there are already so many issues,” Streit said.

Streit, along with committee members, said the buses should be completely moved out of the area and into a space with more breathing room.

“There’s nothing stopping us from putting meters all along Langdon and having no buses, but the problem is finding another area,” Pollack said.

Committee member Margaret Bergamini said another obstacle arises from the relatively small size of the parking lot adjacent to the Memorial Union.

Between 400 and 500 trucks unload supplies for the Union, the Pyle Center and the Red Gym each week, further reducing the amount of parking available in the area. A number of taxis and vehicles also utilize the parking lot as a drop-off and pick-up area for people traveling on the buses, Bergamini said.

“It’s not just a kiss and leave spot,” Bergamini said. “It’s kids going to Singapore, and it becomes a kiss and cry and hug parking lot.”