Bus Stops as Community Assets

Abstract

Metro Transit operates more than 12,000 bus stops over 907 square miles of the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, providing an important service that connects people to the places where they live, work, and play. While bus stops are fairly ubiquitous, their design and placement have come from an utilitarian approach rather than a community asset based approach. Although there is a need for efficiency given the magnitude of the system, the role that bus stops play in people’s daily lives and the impact they have on surrounding properties warrant a greater appreciation. There are opportunities to build bus stops into more community-oriented spaces - ones that both contribute to and are cared for by the community itself. The bottom line is that bus stops are - and have the potential to be further recognized as - valuable community assets.