City reroutes funding earmarked for bus shelter art

Money to be used for improved shelter at the harbour

The city is poised to use $50,000, originally earmarked for bus route art, to build a better waterfront transit shelter instead.

Metrolinx gave the cash to the city several years ago as part of a larger grant meant for transit improvements on Hamilton’s north-south A-Line and east-west B-Line.

City cultural staff initially proposed spending $50,000 on public art at major bus stops, but Mountain Coun. Donna Skelly convinced councillors in January to ask for alternatives focused on new infrastructure rather than “pretty” bus shelters.

Councillors debated Wednesday whether to build new shelters in the lower city or on the Mountain.

A majority of general issues committee members eventually supported a motion from councillors Chad Collins and Jason Farr to build an enhanced bus shelter at the waterfront.

Farr cited the planned new 1,500-unit community on Pier 8 and “strong winds that come off the harbour” in supporting a larger waterfront shelter near the Williams Fresh Cafe.

But Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead argued many stops on the “wind tunnel” north-south line have no shelters at all.

He urged councillors to tell residents outside the downtown “you’re important, too.”

He later earned committee support to look for alternative funding for new bus shelters on the A-Line.

Both projects still need council ratification next week.