This is an example of what our shelter will look like however, ours will be in "Stone" Color. This is called the Kaleidoscope Transit Passenger Shelter. Thanks to the Commissioner Marty Kiar for contacting Broward County Transportation Department to send us this photo.

This is an example of what Tamarac bus shelters will look like; however, Tamarac’s will be in stone color. This is called the Kaleidoscope Transit Passenger Shelter. {photo thanks to Marty Kiar}.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

Residents in Tamarac will soon see new bus shelters popping up all over town. Shelters have been long overdue in our city, and new ones will be installed starting in December, thanks to the city securing a federal grant.

The bus shelters will be installed in two phases. The first phase will provide 16 shelters (plus one bench and trash can because of limited space), and the second will provide 10 at a later date. The locations were based on ridership at each location and availability of right-of-way.

Jennifer Bramley, Former Director of Community Development, told Tamarac Talk in March of 2012, the Federal Transit Administration announced the availability of discretionary bus and bus facilities grant funds. The program intended to enhance the mobility of the public via mass transit to reduce traffic congestion and vehicular emissions.

She said that the city applied for federal transit Bus Livability Funds under Broward County and agreed to pay the county’s required 10 percent administrative fee. The city received notice of the $401,400 award.

One of the stipulations was that the grant program required a 20 percent match in local and/or in-kind funds. The city provided these through installation costs of the shelters, including city staff time.

The shelter being used is stone colored and is called the Kaleidoscope Transit Passenger Shelter. One of the features is that it has a solar collector on top for LED lighting inside. This will provide safety and comfort for residents in the early morning hours and at night.

Here are the 16 locations for new bus shelters. You can find these on a map at Capital Improvement Projects:

Bus Stop 1273 – Northbound 441 South of Commercial

Another view of the shelter. This is just an example. Tamarac bus shelters will be in stone color.

Bus Stop 1686- South East Corner of McNab and Pine Island

Bus Stop 197 – East side of University South of McNab

Bus Stop 2231 – Southbound 31st Ave South of Commercial Blvd

Bus Stop 250 – University Drive SouthBound South of 78th St

Bus Stop 251 – University Drive Southbound North of McNab

Bus Stop 252 – University Drive Southbound South of McNab

Bus Stop 254 – University Drive Southbound near 57th Street (N of Comm)

Bus Stop 2870 – McNab Westbound West of University

Bus Stop 2883 – McNab Eastbound West of University

Bus Stop 3207 – University North Bound South of Southgate Blvd

Bus Stop 3222 – Northbound University North of Commercial

Bus Stop 3324 – Westbound Commercial at 64th Ave

Bus Stop 4353 – Westbound Commercial right before University

Bus Stop 4610 – Westbound Commercial just past 441

Bus Stop 5098 – Eastbound Commercial just past 441

Frank Zickar, Interim Community Development Director, said, “The second grant for 10 shelters is relatively no change other than they are reviewing the maintenance agreement which will be processed through the city commission before the end of the year.” Those locations have not been published at this time.

Zickar anticipates the first shelter should be in place sometime in December, and the last one completed by the end of March 2014, barring any unforeseen issues.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is the Editor of Talk Media and Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, and Parkland Talk. Tamarac Talk was created in 2011 to provide News for the residents of Tamarac and is the #1 News Source for Residents.