Valley Metro announced Tuesday that just in time for the post-Thanksgiving shopping holiday, it will put a new bus stop at one of the direct entrances to Valley View Mall.

Valley Metro had in early October eliminated one of its direct mall stops near the entrance of J.C. Penney Co.'s catalog department. That led to discontent from shoppers who had to walk to the mall from bus stops beside Wal-Mart and near the Olive Garden restaurant -- both of which required crossing the mall's ring road.

The new stop will be at the mall entrance between Belk and Sears Auto Center. It will be marked by a Valley Metro sign, with a bus shelter planned for the future, according to Valley Metro General Manager David Morgan.

Buses will pick up and drop off passengers at the new stop beginning today.

"Valley Metro has worked in cooperation with Valley View Mall to identify a convenient location for this additional bus stop, which is especially important for shoppers during the busy holiday season," Morgan said. "The new bus stop will reduce the walking distance for Valley Metro passengers and make shopping at the mall more manageable."

Morgan said that Valley Metro had wanted a bus stop by an entrance directly into the mall, rather than a store. The new stop fits that requirement, he said, as well as taking care of the mall's concerns about traffic.

Roanoke Vice Mayor Sherman Lea, who had during city council meetings expressed concern's about the stop's removal, said he was pleased with Tuesday's announcement.

"I think that will help a number of the citizens in the city who depend on public transportation," Lea said. "To me it was of grave concern. It proved to be a win-win for everybody, for the citizens and also for Valley View Mall. ... It's important to the livelihood of our economy and our citizens."

None of the other bus stops in the Valley View Mall vicinity will be affected by the addition of the new stop.

On the Net: www.valleymetro.com.