Here’s a refreshing piece from the Statesman, published last week and authored by Cynthia Sewell.
Downtown Boise to get new bus shelters
Why? The current bus shelters are dated, clunky and block the view of businesses. The new shelters are made with Plexiglas and have a more contemporary feel. One of the new-style shelters was installed in front of The Mode Building earlier this year.
Where? Five shelters on Main Street between Capitol Boulevard and 10th Street and two shelters on Idaho Street between Capitol and 8th Street.
When? September through early December.
How much? All told, $134,000. Valley Regional Transit is paying for five of the shelters; Boise’s urban renewal agency is paying for two. Ellsworth-Kincaid is the contractor.
What about the old shelters?
They are being donated to Bogus Basin, which will use them at the ski area’s shuttle stations.
Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/24/1312709/downtown-boise-to-get-new-bus.html#ixzz0yIFWTf4E
What makes this story refreshing is the concept of renewal. That its ok to reinvest in infrastructure. Actually that it’s downright vital to reinvest in infrastructure. It’s like public housing. It’s all well and good to build public housing, but if the assumption is that people who live in low income housing can’t afford the maintenance, then the house soon fall into disrepair, and as the houses go, so goes the social fabric. It’s not a big leap from that to bus stops. When people see new bus stops, with shiny bells and whistles, that are attractive, and current information on bus routes, and use GPS technology to to tell you exactly where the bus is, its easy to imagine oneself being attracted to the idea of getting on the bus. The journey starts at the transit hub, in this case, the bus stop. Sort of like, “if you build it, they will come.”
I love living in the North End because you can walk to shops and restaurants. It's the best place to live in Boise!
