Almost nobody is signing up to adopt shelters, it looks like. DART recently initiated an adopt-a-shelter program. Individuals, organizations, or businesses are encouraged to "adopt" one of the roughly 277 bus shelters here in Delaware. DART says these volunteers will...
Hopefully there have been additional adoptions that are not yet shown.
Many of the shelters I have used are in terrible shape. There clearly is vandalism involved, but DART seems not to repair even long-standing damage. For example, I've used a shelter located near the intersection of Routes 7 and 40 in Bear. Almost all the plastic panels are missing and have been for at least two years. There is nowhere else close by to get out of the rain, so when a gusty downpour starts, you and all your stuff just get soaked. A number of passengers and I ended up dripping, soaked to the skin, in a summer thunderstorm at that location one afternoon last summer. It was one of those sudden storms where the heavy rain is blown horizontally. Our umbrellas did not even help. Had all the panels been in place, we could have sheltered downwind, but the one remaining panel wasn't nearlybig enough for all of us.
This same stop is in a very dark area, with the nearest streetlight too far away to light the shelter. It is kind of scary at night. There is no shelter lighting at all here, although this stop serves busy Route 40 and is fairly high-volume. A shelter serving route 54 in a nearby neighborhood does seem to have lighting, although this other shelter is much less used.
There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to which shelters DART keeps in good shape and provides lighting for. But it's really a scandal how damaged some of the shelters have become, with no repairs for years and years. Other shelters seem to remain well-cared for.
I applaud the public adoption program, and especially those few who have stepped up to volunteer.
If you're interested, according to the agreement that volunteers must sign, participants will be expected to do a weekly pick-up of trash, cleaning of the shelters, and removal of snow. DART says it will power wash the shelter "on an as needed basis." At the volunteer's request, DART will perform graffiti removal, removal of overgrown grass, and shelter repairs. Volunteers should report "concerns about snow removal," vandalism, disturbances, safety issues, and rider articles left at the shelter. They should report to law enforcement any suspicious packages, drug paraphernalia, and illegal looking items. Participants will be given reflective vests and trash bags. DART says it will consider contracting security and/or maintenance services upon participant request. Let's hope more businesses and organizations sign up for this program. However, in the meanwhile DART is responsible for this stuff, and in some places the shelters are an absolute disgrace.
help maintain bus shelters throughout the State. DART believes that these partnerships will result in more attractive and cleaner shelter environments for its customers while also reducing the number of incidents and associated costs of vandalism. It is also an opportunity for individuals and/or groups to be publicly recognized for their contribution to the community. DART will publicly recognize shelter adopters with a plaque at the shelter, in media releases, recognition on DART's popular web site, and with a framed wall certificate.The program was announced well over a month ago. DART maintains a list of shelters available for adoption. It is dated July 1, 2011, and it shows only four shelters to have been adopted in New Castle County.
- Hockessin Goodyear has adopted the shelter at Lancaster Pike and Yorklyn Road.
- Tower Hill School has adopted a shelter at Pennsylvania Avenue and Rising Sun Lane.
- Joan and Jim Hicks have adopted a shelter at Foulk Road and Fairfax Boulevard
- Canaan Baptist Church has adopted the shelter at their location on Route 9 in Wilmington.
Hopefully there have been additional adoptions that are not yet shown.
Many of the shelters I have used are in terrible shape. There clearly is vandalism involved, but DART seems not to repair even long-standing damage. For example, I've used a shelter located near the intersection of Routes 7 and 40 in Bear. Almost all the plastic panels are missing and have been for at least two years. There is nowhere else close by to get out of the rain, so when a gusty downpour starts, you and all your stuff just get soaked. A number of passengers and I ended up dripping, soaked to the skin, in a summer thunderstorm at that location one afternoon last summer. It was one of those sudden storms where the heavy rain is blown horizontally. Our umbrellas did not even help. Had all the panels been in place, we could have sheltered downwind, but the one remaining panel wasn't nearlybig enough for all of us.
This same stop is in a very dark area, with the nearest streetlight too far away to light the shelter. It is kind of scary at night. There is no shelter lighting at all here, although this stop serves busy Route 40 and is fairly high-volume. A shelter serving route 54 in a nearby neighborhood does seem to have lighting, although this other shelter is much less used.
There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to which shelters DART keeps in good shape and provides lighting for. But it's really a scandal how damaged some of the shelters have become, with no repairs for years and years. Other shelters seem to remain well-cared for.
I applaud the public adoption program, and especially those few who have stepped up to volunteer.
If you're interested, according to the agreement that volunteers must sign, participants will be expected to do a weekly pick-up of trash, cleaning of the shelters, and removal of snow. DART says it will power wash the shelter "on an as needed basis." At the volunteer's request, DART will perform graffiti removal, removal of overgrown grass, and shelter repairs. Volunteers should report "concerns about snow removal," vandalism, disturbances, safety issues, and rider articles left at the shelter. They should report to law enforcement any suspicious packages, drug paraphernalia, and illegal looking items. Participants will be given reflective vests and trash bags. DART says it will consider contracting security and/or maintenance services upon participant request. Let's hope more businesses and organizations sign up for this program. However, in the meanwhile DART is responsible for this stuff, and in some places the shelters are an absolute disgrace.
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