Mesa bus stops to get $2.5M in shade structures

Almost 70 unshaded bus stops in the city of Mesa will get an upgrade worth $2.5 million in local and federal funds.

During its Monday meeting, the Mesa City Council voted 5-0 to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the Regional Public Transportation Authority for the design, fabrication and installation of shade structures at up to 66 bus stops throughout the city.

Mayor Mark Freeman and Councilmember Rich Adams were absent from the meeting. The item was on the council’s consent agenda in which all matters are dealt with through one motion and vote.

In 2022, a study conducted by the city found that 48 of Mesa’s 700 bus stops provide some shade through shelters, adjacent buildings or vegetation. In addition, almost all locations that can house standard bus shelters within existing rights-of-way have been improved, according to a staff report.

“The remaining bus stops without shade are primarily constrained by limited right-of-way. To address (this), the study budget also funded the development of a smaller footprint ‘micro-shelter’ design that can be installed in tighter spaces to provide shade for bus riders,” the report stated.

The Mesa Transit Department has more than $1.3 million budgeted for the project and other future bus shelters. Through that allocation, the department was able to secure an $800,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration in the fiscal year 2023 federal budget.

“The pass-through grant agreement with the city of Phoenix was approved by the (Mesa) city council on Oct. 25, 2025. The city of Phoenix is the designated grant recipient for FTA funds for the Phoenix metropolitan area,” the report continued. “Under this arrangement, the city of Mesa will incur project expenses and submit reimbursement requests to Phoenix.”

An added $409,667 generated through Mesa’s transit advertising program will be used as contingency funds.
When they are completed, Mesa will own and maintain the bus shelters.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.