Metro Transit and community partners have spent a lot of time asking customers how they feel about their bus stop – questions that have led to investments in new shelters, light and other bus stop improvements.
Building on that work, students from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs set out to learn what nearby property owners, residents and workers felt about these locations. The student’s sought to answer three main questions:
- How do neighbors feel about nearby bus stops?
- What influences these feelings?
- How can neighbors become more engaged in creating better bus stops?
To answer these questions, in-person surveys were completed at nine bus stops with different demographics and physical attributes.
The survey found that, overall, bus stops are viewed as a valuable asset, improving walkability and access and potentially supporting local businesses. The survey also found that many community members had taken informal ownership of their nearby bus stop, shoveling snow and picking up litter, and were willing to partner with Metro Transit on future maintenance and improvement activities.
The findings led students to develop several recommendations and key objectives Metro Transit could focus on moving forward.
See the student’s recommendations and read their full report here.
Students who participated in the Capstone Project include: Joseph Ayers-Johnson, Kurt Howard, Casey Lauderdale, Joseph Polacek and Jake Schutt. Illustration courtesy Joseph Polacek.