The Town is currently considering installation of bus shelters at high volume bus stops in Arlington. The Town would enter an agreement with the MBTA and a private company called Cemusa, which would maintain the shelters. The shelters are paid for with advertising, with a small amount of revenue coming to the Town. A public meeting was held on July 20, with a presentation by the MBTA about the program. It can be viewed online at arlingtonma.gov/planning (1.8 MB PDF).

The public is invited to comment on this proposal until August 6 by contacting Laura Wiener, Senior Planner, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or 781 316-3091.

Excerpts from the SA yahoo list discussion:


July 23

Dear Laura,

I would like to comment that I support installing bus shelters, but oppose paying for them with advertising. Our society is poisoned by advertisements that sell unrelentless consumerism to young and old, and diminish people's intelligence and good judgement by persistent brainwashing of false messages.

We should pay for these important public needs with public money, and allow the walls of the bus shelters to be used by the public as a bulletin for all.

In particular, each shelter should have on its wall a map of Arlington and surrounding area, with the BIKE PATH prominently highlighted, so that people new to the area can learn about this wonderful path to commute quickly and get their daily exercises at the same time.

Thank you.

Magdalena Hoersch

July 24
Maggie,

I'm sorry to hear that you really are saying that we shouldn't have bus shelters in Arlington because there's no way that the town can afford to put them in during this financial crisis. Perhaps you haven't a chance to see the CEMUSA shelters which have such subtle advertising that it really doesn't seem obtrusive. And perhaps you haven't had a chance to talk to the elderly or disabled who find it painful, or at the very least difficult, to stand and wait for a bus. I would guess that you favor use of public transportation, and it's clear that bus shelters make it more likely that people will take a bus than drive their car when able to be sheltered. I have to admit that when it's snowing or raining hard, I'm likely to drive myself rather than take a bus, which I prefer.

Gail

July 25
I just looked up on cemusa.com/ and find their advertisements to be just about what I expected - similar to most street advertisements. I don't know what you mean by 'subtle'.

What is the cost of these bus shelters? Could we think of a way to get them built cheaply, creatively? Put out an alert to residents to see if any has the skill to build it, for a much smaller fee? All we need is something over our heads, and a bench or two in some shelters where the sidewalk is wide enough. They don't have to look professional. In fact if we build funky, barebone shelters, then put on it advertisement that says "Our tax $$ for shelters, not war!", wouldn't that be cool? We could also possibly raise some donations in the town specially for the shelters, as they were able to do with the school budget, through 'Bridge the Gap'.

If the above is not possible, perhaps the town could still explore a short term ad contract with CEMUSA , so that it could be agreed that if we come up with funds later, we could stop advertisement at any time, and pay them an amount that decreases with the length of time they have been able to advertise here.

I feel there must be something we could do to prevent permanent advertisement plastered around our town, and still get the shelters built.

Kind regards.

Maggie


No Maggie, that would not “be cool” for a number of reasons, among them liability.
There are multiple layers of regulations involved, from ADA compliance to structural integrity and more. We don’t need just “something over our heads, and a bench.” if we want to actually meet the needs of the disabled, and others. These companies not only design their products to meet regulations but take on some amount (if not all) liability related to the shelters. As you likely know, having no shelter does not open the town to liability, but if the town does provide something then suddenly the opportunity for lawsuits opens up. I would not support construction of anything that might open the town to any more lawsuits.
A short term contract with CEMUSA, as you suggest, would be nice but my understanding of WALL, CEMUSA, etc. is that the length of the contract provides them with the funds necessary to actually design and build something that meets the various regulations.
Jeremy

For those who haven't had an opportunity to follow the quest for bus shelters, additional information might be helpful. Not only does CEMUSA install the shelters, they maintain them which also saves the Town money. In addition the Town receives some income from the advertising. I believe it has been calculated that with the small number of shelters planned this would amount to about $14,000 annually.

The Town has the right to reject any particular advertisements. I've noticed that along Mass Ave in Cambridge the shelters generally have Disney movie ads or such. And if you look at the shelters in Cambridge put up and maintained by the City, I think you will find that the CEMUSA shelters are far cleaner and in far better shape. While I completely agree that in the best of all possible worlds, we wouldn't have advertising, it seems that the current world is slightly less than perfect.

Gail

Hi Maggie.

I think this is an instance in which we do not want the perfect to be the enemy of the good. There are numerous advantages to having bus stop shelters in Arlington, and they will cost the town no money -- and even bring in some revenue. I understand what you are saying about the ads, but the ads are the model that allows the shelters to be built and maintained free of charge to the town and MBTA. Without them, there would be very few shelters. The MBTA is in such financial crisis that we cannot expect it to put out money for bus shelters when it cannot even maintain the transit system in a state of good repair and there is a model that allows the shelters to be built and maintained at no cost. I think your alternative suggestions will not get us bus shelters that are well built and well maintained.

Also, my experience as a bus rider, especially in Boston and Cambridge where there are many bus stop shelters, is that the shelters are very helpful to many people in both good and bad weather and positively enhance taking public transit. The shelters are well-maintained and I think the ads are not objectionable -- unless one objects to any advertising in public places. Also, many of the shelters have maps and schedules posted for the bus routes, which is another welcome enhancement that I hope will be incorporated in Arlington.

I am hoping the town agrees to the installation of the bus stop shelters.

Gene


Well-put.

I for one don't want to see "home-made" bus shelters - I want something that I know will meet safety standards, support the weight of a heavy person, allow for wheelchair access, and be easily cleaned and repaired. Now if we could do all that with no ads it'd be great - I'm thinking of the Mt Gilboa playground that was built with volunteer labor but with standardized materials and a professional plan.

Would the town have any control or veto power over what ads are displayed? Some of the movie ads *are* sorta gross. Although I've also enjoyed some of the PSA ads over the years in Cambridge - there was a *very* useful poster up for a while explaining the new recycling program, and another time there were some very upbeat ads for exercising and eating vegetables
Betsy

As I understand it, the Town can reject any ad that it doesn't like. Hopefully that wouldn't happen very often.

Gail