METRO Bus Shelters Get an Upgrade

Many METRO customers will soon experience a more comfortable wait at their bus stop as the Authority continues to add hundreds of newly designed bus shelters across the region.

The shelters are an update to the long-standing bus shelter design and feature a silver-colored, more durable structure with steel framing and solar-powered lighting to enhance the customer experience.

In November, METRO leadership, elected officials, and community partners cut the ribbon on one of the first modernized shelters. METRO’s Facilities Maintenance Department will install 30 shelters each month, 400 per year, with a goal of 2,000 in the next five years.

"From new shelters to accessibility upgrades, we at METRO are committed to making the necessary improvements for the region to ensure that every customer has a safe and reliable commute," said METRO Board Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran.

The first installations will focus on stops without shelters and then move to replacing older shelters. METRO will also upgrade existing trash cans and add 1,000 new ones. Benches will be added where feasible.

Shelter installation priorities will depend on these factors:

• Number of daily rides at a stop
• Access to a significant senior population
• Access to a community with a high concentration of people living with a disability
• Serves a significant activity center, such as hospitals, retail or grocery stores
• Connects with other bus routes or METRORail.

The updated shelters are one of many programs METRO has in the works to enhance the rider experience.

“As we do the BOOST corridors, you will see more shelters coming to those locations as well to get that customer experience where people feel safer and more comfortable using transit in this community,” said President & CEO Tom Lambert.

METRO’s BOOST network program invests in improvements to 17 high-ridership bus routes by providing digital bus arrival information and making updates to bus shelters, sidewalks, and lighting.

Listen to the latest episode of The Next Stop podcast to learn more about the latest METRO improvement projects.