MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - A petition opposing the proposed CATA's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project was submitted by owner of A & G Associates of East Lansing George Tesseris.

"It's a boondoggle," Tesseris said.

The petition which was submitted to the Meridian Township Board on March 22nd has 55 signatures from local businesses which Tesseris said represents about 70-75 percent of all the commercial property between Brookfield Plaza and the Meridian Mall.

One major concern with the project for business owners is how the construction and the project overall is how it will affect their business.

The primary concern is the possible elimination of left-hand turn lanes and how it could potentially affect the accessibility of entering and exiting complexes.

"It will be hard for them [customers] to not be able to turn left into the complex into our business," Store Manager of Oriental Mart Rachel Nimsombun said.

"Delivery trucks will not be able to make a left turn in and out and if you take a truck that's 55 or 60 feet long they expect them to make a U-turn. How is that truck gonna make a U-turn on Grand River? It's not possible," Tesseris said.

"Left hand turn lanes being eliminated would be detrimental to any business up and down Grand River," Auto Tech of East Lansing owner Jeff Cullen said.

Township Trustee Milton Scales said a large majority of the community has advised the Board that they are not in support of the BRT project.

"Please continue to stay involved. Please continue to advise us how you feel," Scales said.

Tesseris said he hopes this petition will stop the BRT project.

"The whole thing is ill-conceived and every time I talk to somebody, or they approach me they tell me the same thing and they say George, keep fighting it, we're behind you," Tesseris said.

CATA was unavailable for an on-camera interview at the time of this story. Stay tuned for follow-up story with more information on CATA's response to the petition.