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Committee hears update on JET bus shelters, ADA pads and possible sidewalk funding
Summary
Committee members received an update on the installation of bus shelters ordered under a federal grant and discussed potential use of federal transit funds for sidewalks on North Patrick to improve transit access.
Committee members discussed the city's progress installing bus stop shelters and related site work, and explored whether federal transit funding could help pay for sidewalks on North Patrick.
A committee member asked staff about the status of bus stop shelters: a staff member said a contractor has been selected and the shelters are expected to be delivered well before the end of the year. The staffer said some concrete pads needed to be rebuilt to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications and that utility coordination is required at some stops. "The light is at the end of the proverbial tunnel," staff said, adding that work is advancing on info boards, programming and when shelters will be usable by the public.
Committee members expressed concern about winter weather and the time riders must stand at stops before shelters are installed. One member said, "A lot of these people have to stand out there, and, I guess, it continues to bother me until we get it done."
The committee also discussed sidewalks on North Patrick as a way to improve safe access to bus stops. Staff said Jets (the municipal transit agency) and Finance staff are working on next year's action plan and budget for transit and are seeking federal transit funds for pedestrian infrastructure where it helps riders access stops. Staff noted a local match is typically required and that funding availability will determine how much can be pursued. Staff said they are gathering project data and engineering inputs to be prepared to apply for funds when available.
Why it matters: Installing shelters and sidewalks affects daily accessibility and safety for transit riders, particularly in areas without existing pedestrian infrastructure.
What happens next: Staff will continue work on shelter installation (site preparation, ADA pads, utility alignment) and coordinate grant/budget planning with Jets and engineering for potential pedestrian projects; no formal committee vote was taken on these updates.
