Bus stops in Anchorage and Eagle River are getting new artwork and signage and, in some cases, upgraded metal shelters, benches and trashcans.
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The upgrades are part of an initiative to improve the public transit experience for People Mover riders while incorporating local artwork across the city.
“It’s really important to me that we have a comfortable place for bus riders to wait for the bus,” said Bart Rudolph, the city’s director of public transportation. “Any kind of protection that we can provide from the elements, or a bench to allow them to rest for their bus, I think is a big deal and really helps improve the rider experience.”
More than 30 bus stops will receive upgrades this summer, Rudolph said. The total cost for the project this summer is $379,000, he said.
But not all stops will get all of the upgrades. Bus stops with increased ridership will receive metal shelters first. The goal is to eventually have as many stops with shelters and benches as possible, Rudolph said.
About 3 million people ride public transit annually, and ridership is only increasing, Rudolph said.
“We are now at a higher level than we’ve been at for the past decade, as far as bus ridership, and we’re seeing it with higher gas prices and tourists and visitors,” he said. “When they come to town, they expect a transit system that is welcoming and takes them to the places that they want to go.”
Public safety was a large consideration in the design, Rudolph said. There are built-in dividers on the benches, commonly used to deter people from lying down.
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“One thing that we got feedback from riders is about public safety,” Rudolph said. “When we have buses that come every 15 to 30 minutes, I believe that bus stops should be comfortable for 15 to 30 minutes, so that when new riders come, they have the experience that all other riders have, or they have the bench available to them.”
The project is mostly paid for with federal grants and partially through voter approved bonds, Rudolph said. The Anchorage Public Transportation Department receives about $1.7 million every year in federal funds for bus stop and facility improvements, he said.
The upgrades also include artwork from local artist Julia Ditto that will be featured on 680 bus signs across the city. The artwork was chosen through a public arts initiative.
“When people look at my design, I hope that they will consider the land they are crossing, the history of its people and the value it still holds today,” Ditto said.
People Mover plans to add shelters to 25 more bus stops next summer. But benches and trash cans will be rolled out quicker, with 40 stops anticipated to see them next year.
The city is also reviewing whether to build a new transit center at the intersection of Muldoon and Debarr roads, on the city’s east side. A community open house is scheduled for Sept. 30.
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