A 2001 contract between the city of Los Angeles and CBS Decaux failed to deliver 662 shelters for bus stops. A case study in what not to do on either side of a public-private partnership follows.
"More than half of the bus shelters planned under a city of Los Angeles contract have not been built, leaving riders at more than 800 locations without shelters and depriving the city of millions in unrealized advertising revenues," report Meghan McCarty and Aaron Mendelson.
The duo reports for this KPCC investigation into the results of a 2001 contract between the city of Los Angeles and CBS Decaux. In addition to the missing bus stop shelters, the city has missed out on $80 million in projected revenue.
McCarty and Mendelson provide the details of a public-private partnership gone wrong. The problem boils down to conflicts of interest. The goals of a transit system and the goals of an advertising company do not often align.
Bus riders and transit agencies want the shelters where they are most needed, often at busy bus stops in low-income communities where bus ridership is high. But advertising ventures like CBS Decaux have other priorities.
The article shares anecdotes from the experiences of Los Angeles residents who wait on buses without protection from the Southern California sun. Meghan McCarty also wrote a follow-up post sharing social media reactions to the original story. The issue had already inspire local activists to create the #SeekingShade hashtag.
FULL STORY: Hundreds of LA bus shelters go unbuilt, millions in promised revenue evaporate under city contract
LA Begins Adding New Bus Shelters
The program, years in the works, pledges to add 3,000 new bus shelters and 450 shade structures to protect riders from extreme heat and weather.
L.A. Bus Stops Offer No Relief From Searing Temperatures
As heat waves intensify, bus riders in Los Angeles are forced to wait at bus stops that offer little shade or seating, putting vulnerable residents at risk of heat stroke and other health impacts.
Where to Preview L.A.'s New Bus Shelters
Angelenos can try out the new designs at six locations this summer, with the full program set to launch in 2022.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research