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The new bus shelters rolled out across the city suffer from a combination of three major design flaws, according to a report by the Audit Office.
The report highlights that the main structural column in the shelters is positioned on the side facing oncoming traffic, it is opaque, and the bench is mounted on this same column, rather than being placed in the center or to the right, further limiting visibility.
Responsibility for the flawed design lies with the Public Works Department (PWD), which served as the contracting authority, the report states. While the final shelter design was intended to be innovative, it ultimately blocks the view of approaching buses, something the Audit Office called “completely unacceptable.”
The original design proposals did not include these flaws, the report notes. They were introduced after input from the PWD. Even as public criticism of the shelters mounted, the PWD stood by the design, raising concerns about the department’s ability to acknowledge and address clear functional issues.
Visibility compromised
The placement of the main support column, referred to as "point 3" in planning documents, is central to the problem. International standards and transit design literature recommend either eliminating this column or ensuring it is transparent to allow passengers a clear line of sight. In the current shelters, however, the column is wide, metallic and fully obstructs the view of oncoming traffic.
PWD response
The PWD maintains that in all the designs submitted by the Technical Consultant, the column was positioned as it is in the final product. The department continues to support the design, describing it as correct and necessary.
However, the Audit Office cites documentation indicating that the top-scoring proposal, Proposal 5, which received a 96% rating, placed the main column on the right side, not the left. Additionally, all initial proposals featured benches placed on the right, unlike the final version where the bench is attached to the left-side column.
Even if the column had remained on the left, placing the bench on the right would have significantly improved sightlines, the report notes.
Consultant’s objections
The report also reveals that after the initial proposals, the PWD issued specific instructions that altered the original layouts. These changes aimed to ensure uniformity, scalability, compliance with standards, lower costs, ease of mass production, and user convenience. However, the resulting design failed to prioritize visibility, one of the shelters’ core functions.
The Technical Consultant has not approved the final shelter designs, according to the report. The consultant also stated that the current shelters differ significantly from those originally proposed, and noted that the “Small Shelter” design was intended for limited use, not widespread installation across the city.
Interim findings
The Audit Office described the current report as an interim finding. As such, the formal process for issuing a Special Report, which includes a response period for the entities involved, has not yet taken place. That process will begin once audits for all relevant tenders are complete.
