Dependable Erection

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Another small step

Last week i was surprised to see this little line in the minutes from the most recent PAC 2 (Partners Against Crime - District 2) meeting:
"Question of whom to call for having a covered shelter installed at a Bus Stop. This is Durham One call – 560-1200."

I've occasionally posted pictures of some of Durham's neglected bus stops, and Lord knows there's a lot of them.
Somewhere between 80 and 90% of all the bus stops in Durham lack shelters or benches. Partially because it's convenient, but also because they are fairly well used and both unsafe and unsightly, i've kind of adopted the bus stops in the 1800 block of Avondale Drive.
Seriously? This is all you need to do to get a covered shelter installed at a bus stop?

I'm going to try this out immediately for the bus stops on Avondale Drive and let everyone know how it works.

That's what i posted back to the PAC2 list. I called One-Call and requested bus shelters for the Avondale Drive bus stops on Friday. I didn't get a tracking number for the request, because the operator wasn't sure how to process it, bu i expect to hear back soon, because of this announcement by Councilman Woodard to the last on Monday night:
I'm pleased to report that the City will [use] ARRA (stimulus) funds to provide 20 new bus shelters with solar lights, 20 new bus benches, and more trash cans at bus stops. I don't have the exact locations right now.

None of the elaborate plans for light rail and other mass transit will work until we enhance our bus service and make it transportation of choice, not just chance. Some of us--elected and appointed officials--are working hard to make that happen.

Twenty's a small step in the right direction; and since we can't count on stimulus funds every year, we're going to need to figure out another source of funding to move this project along in subsequent years. But the notion that we need to make bus service the "transportation of choice, not just chance" is especially welcome.

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8 Comments:

  • I had noticed last month a couple of new covered stops, but can't remember where I saw them...

    By Blogger Unknown, at 11:50 AM  

  • Chapel Hill?

    By Blogger Brian, at 9:03 PM  

  • Nah. I never leave Durham. :) I'm thinking it must have been near NCCU and Durham Tech or thereabouts...

    By Blogger Unknown, at 1:08 PM  

  • Looks like one's going in at Crest St. & Shirley St.

    By Blogger Stephen, at 1:54 PM  

  • Barry,
    Was Durham One Call the contact for getting the weeds in the I-85 median taken care of? It's time to raise that issue again.

    By Blogger Todd, at 12:03 AM  

  • I thought i was the only one noticing that.

    Last year, it was reported that the issue was an internal communications mixup, with the responsible department being unaware that they were in fact responsible for weeding the Jersey barrier plantings.

    Not sure what the deal is this year, but hell, why not give One-Call a chance to make it right? 560-1200.

    By Blogger Barry, at 10:34 AM  

  • > Looks like one's going in at Crest St. & Shirley St.


    FYI...

    Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:47 AM
    Subject: status of bus shelters (Crest St & Shirley St)?

    Hi Pierre,

    When you get a chance, would you please let us know of the status for the bus shelters on Crest St and on Shirley St?

    I understand the community is very interested in welcoming these two shelters and was hoping you could share the time-frame.

    with appreciation,

    John Schelp, president
    Old West Durham Neighborhood Association

    ****

    Thursday, July 24, 2008 2:28 PM

    We have received the request via telephone from Mr. Willie Patterson. Currently we trying to determine the best locations for the shelter. Also, we are waiting for our next shipment of shelters to arrive which could take upwards of 30 days. If the locations are in public right-of-way then the project can be completed faster. However, if the locations are on private property then that is a another process we have to take.

    Thanks,

    Cha'ssem Anderson, MS
    Transportation Planner I
    City of Durham/Durham Area Transit Authority

    ****

    By Blogger Unknown, at 12:02 PM  

  • I am so happy to hear about the 20 new bus stops and your one-call campaign! Durham's lack of bus stops has been driving me crazy (no pun intended) for years. We should be able to give people a bench to sit on.

    By Blogger kendraro, at 4:24 PM  

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