Opponents of a bypass have countered that traffic along Route 7 has declined in the 1990's, and that a bypass would have done little to help congestion in Rutland City, which is at the bottom of a hill west of Route 7. Vermont Transit has so far balked at shifting its bus station from Strong Avenue, directly fronting the Plaza shopping center, to the confines of the massive, five-story concrete structure fronting on West Street. The state has yet to lease 225 spaced in the MMTC, viewed throughout its creation as one of the main sources of operating revenue. The Agency of Transportation prefers to have Rutland City operator the facility, because it is unlikely that it will see full use if the City does not control or eliminate parking elsewhere. A smaller parking deck in the Plaza shopping center seems a likely candidate for eventual demolition, though it remains uncertain just how the space would be used.
Early indications are that retail use if favored.
But the transit center has proved its value for Paramount Center arts and entertainment performances, except on one occasion when employees were not informed that people would be leaving late and locked 60 cars in for the night when they quit their shift. And the 100 spaced leased for a new building at the Green Mountain Bank site nearby have made that construction project possible. As for the Transit District's own operations, manager Larry Dreier said they have had a good year. A bus run to help Killington workers was a success, and a new route to and from Manchester, in conjunction with similar runs up from Bennington, should help the stores there find employees and Rutlanders to find work, he said. Efforts are ongoing to improve such situations as Amtrak travel clerks not knowing about the Ethan Allen service.