Three new bus shelters are expected to be completed in Courtenay this month.
Courtenay council received an update on the city's bus shelter installation program Monday, which states completion of three new shelters is anticipated for mid-November.
Bases for the shelters have been installed, and they will be constructed as soon as the shelters are delivered, according to the report from engineering manager Derek Richmond and planning services director Peter Crawford.
The new shelters will be installed eastbound on Ryan Road by the Coastal Community Credit Union, westbound on Ryan Road at the RCMP headquarters, and eastbound in front of 170 Centennial Dr.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) applied for funding for the installation of three bus shelters under the BC Transit Bus Shelter Program on behalf of the City of Courtenay.
The cost of the shelters is about $24,000, with the City paying 54 per cent of the costs under the BC Transit Bus Shelter Program cost-sharing formula. The approximate cost for the three shelters — all inclusive of bases, shelters and contingencies — is in the order of $50,000, noted Richmond and Crawford.
During Monday's committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard raised concerns about vandalism at the shelter at the Courtenay and District Museum and about including security in the budget.
There has been a preliminary meeting with the museum, the CVRD, the RCMP and the City to discuss the issues they are having at that shelter, explained community services director Randy Wiwchar.
There may or may not be some use of video cameras, which have been given some consideration, noted Mayor Greg Phelps.
Leonard pointed out that the Town of Comox has had the benefit of being a smaller community and having access to Towns for Tomorrow funds that Courtenay is not eligible for, and they've had partnerships with the Rotary Club and the fire department to get new bus shelters in their community, and she hoped the city could explore partnership opportunities.
The idea of partnerships is still alive, but the City wanted to make sure it at least got some bus shelters up this year, noted Phelps.
Coun. Doug Hillian, who has been calling for action on bus shelters since January 2010, was eager to seek partnerships.
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