Over half the city’s bus stops shaded; effort to shade bus stops continues

The Phoenix Public Transit Department announced a record today, noting that the department has now erected shade shelters at more than 50 percent of the city’s bus stops. Phoenix Public Transit spent more than $1.1 million to install 300 shade shelters in fiscal year 2006-07. With shade shelters installed at 2,063 of a total 4,095 bus stops throughout the city, Phoenix Public Transit is continuing toward its goal of covering as many stops as possible, according to Deputy Public Transit Director Reed Caldwell.

“When people think of public transit, usually they think of the on-board experience — buses, bus operators, and travel times. But equally important for passengers is that period between trips. We’re trying to make that time, especially in the heat of Phoenix, as comfortable as possible,” Caldwell added.

Shade shelters come in many forms, with some built as shaded benches only, while others cover more area and include space for advertising or transit messages. Currently the cost of a shade shelter can range from $6,700 to $16,000 depending on the shape and materials used for the structure, and the amount of concrete foundation required to support it. Many times, the kind of shelter, or whether or not a shelter can even be placed, is based on the area around a bus stop — whether there is private property nearby or even enough land to build.