The City of Delta will be installing several new covered bus shelters in industrial areas.
Following a motion put forward by Coun. Jennifer Johal, council directed staff to conduct an assessment of the current transit infrastructure in Tilbury and Annacis Island to identify gaps and opportunities for the installation of shelters.
There is a total of 73 bus stops in Tilbury and Annacis Island, but only 13 are currently serviced with bus shelters.
Staff came back with a report Sept. 23 with recommendations that council endorsed, including five new shelter locations that are in proximity to businesses such as distribution warehouses in Tilbury and BCIT’s Annacis Island campus. Those new shelters would result in an approximate 40 percent increase in the total number of bus shelters for the industrial areas.
The report notes that the costs to supply and install an illuminated bus shelter is approximately $35,000, while installation of bus benches would likely range between $2,000-and-$3,000 per bench.
In locations where there is insufficient road dedication, there will also be property acquisition costs to accommodate the required shelters.
A multi-year improvements program was recommended with a budget of approximately $200,000 for 2025, enabling the installation of the five new shelters next year.
Staff will also look for possible future grant opportunities to assist in offsetting the costs for the program.
The report also notes Delta currently has a contract with Pattison Outdoor to supply and maintain bus shelters at no cost in exchange for allowing advertising on the shelters. At certain locations where Pattison is unable to install bus shelters due to low potential for advertising revenue, Delta has installed bus shelters independently.
Out of the 13 shelters in Tilbury and Annacis Island, eight shelters are Delta owned and five are provided by Pattison.
Ridership volume is a consideration when determining which bus stops are prioritized for shelters, and Pattison Outdoor had determined there is insufficient pass-by traffic to meet the required advertising threshold for additional Pattison shelters.
