Airdrie's bus stops are getting a bit of a facelift.

The City is currently installing benches at a number of bus stops around Airdrie.

"About a month ago now, they put the groundwork in and the benches themselves were installed within the last week and a half," said Transit Coordinator Chris MacIssacs, "The intent being, of course, to provide our customers with a place to comfortably sit while they're waiting for the bus."

Fifty benches have been installed so far, with an additional 23 set to be installed before the end of the year. MacIssacs explained that the benches are provided through a partnership with Creative Outdoor Advertising, and thus don't cost the City anything.

"The benches themselves aren't owned by the City. They're owned by our contractor, so what we do is we provide them with the exclusive rights to advertise and place benches within the transit zones."

In return, the City takes a cut of the ad revenue, generating funding for Airdrie Transit.

The City will also install more solar powered bus shelters soon. MacIssacs explained the bus shelter program is a three year initiative, with more shelters being installed every year through 2018.

"We'll be installing eight shelters between now and the end of the year. They are going on high use area bus stops throughout the City, mainly along our corridors, so Eighth Street [and] Main Street."

The first batch of shelters were installed last year. MacIssacs said the bus shelter program has been a success so far, and he anticipated the additional shelters will sustain that feeling. The shelters are funded through Alberta Transportation and the Green Trip Fund. While MacIssacs was not sure when installation of the shelters would begin, he said they have been shipped to the installers and should be in place before the end of the year.

 

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