Cedar Rapids getting new bus shelters

Transit riders in Cedar Rapids will soon be seeing welcome changes at their local bus stops in the form of innovative new bus shelters. The shelters are supplied by Creative Outdoor Advertising (COA) at no cost to the city. The shelters will provide transit riders with shade from the hot Iowa sun, as well as shelter from the rain, wind and snow. The shelters will also provide local businesses with a visible and affordable advertising venue.

Shelters are being installed at several locations in the city over the next week. The new shelter locations include:

• Routes 5N, 5S, and 5B on the NE corner of 1st Ave and 10th St.
• Routes 5N, 5S, and 5B on the SE corner of 1st Ave and 10th St.
• Routes 5N, 5S, and 5B on 1st Ave at College Dr. by Coe College
• Route 7 at Bowling St. and Wilson Ave.
• Route 11 at Wright Brothers Blvd. and Atlantic Dr.
• Route 11 at 33rd Ave. and South Ridge Dr.
• Route 12 at 6th St. and 16th Ave.

A shelter has already been installed on Route 11 at 33rdAve and South Gate Ct. This fall, Cedar Rapids Transit is looking forward to the replacement of approximately 20 older shelters with the new COA Parkside shelters. The older shelters date back to the 1970s and require a fair amount of regular maintenance.

COA is responsible for all costs associated with the shelters including installation, insurance, maintenance, cleaning and graffiti removal. COA also coordinates the sale of advertising panels located above the shelter entrance. The cost of maintaining the shelters is paid for through the revenue generated by the sale of advertising on each shelter. "The Parkside Bus Shelter Program has been designed from the ground up to be an attractive marketing tool for local small business to promote themselves in the community where they are located. We have set our ad rates to make the Parkside Bus Shelter very affordable to local small business in Cedar Rapids," said Bill Schwartz, Municipal Affairs Manager for COA.