FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2019
Contact: Dane Eifling
Bicycle & Pedestrain Programs Coodinator
Engineering Division
479.575.8243
deifling@fayetteville-ar.gov
Tactical Urbanism Project Brings Creative Seating to Bus Stops
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— In 2017, the City of Fayetteville developed a Tactical Urbanism process to encourage community-led projects that test temporary and low-cost changes for improving neighborhoods and gathering places. Starting today, the University of Arkansas’s Office of Sustainability will place hardwood tree stumps at bus stops around Fayetteville. Colorful designs are painted and clear coated on a sanded stump surface, offering a place to sit while passengers wait for the next bus.
Eric Boles, director for the Office of Sustainability said, “The goal is to improve the experience of our transit patrons. The project will be considered a success if people relax on the seats. The hardwood logs are extremely durable and can become firewood – ensuring that the log will never become litter."
The project aims to have stump seating at 10 bus stops. The first two installations are at:
- W. Poplar Street near Chestnut Apartments (south side of Poplar St, east of Razorback Greenway)
- N. Leverett Avenue near Noble Oaks Apartments (northwest corner of Leverett and W. Lawson St.)
City staff worked with Ozark Regional Transit and Razorback Transit in 2018 to introduce a free fare ridership program with improved service frequency and bus stop locations. One of the next steps in improving transit services is identifying what type of bus stop amenities, such as shelters and benches, are needed and where. The stump seating project will assist with the goal.
To help residents design and install their tactical urbanism projects, the City developed an Application Guide. The guide includes timelines, material suggestions, state and city standards for street and right-of-way projects, installation instructions, and helpful hints for evaluating the success of a project. To provide feedback on any of the tactical urbanism projects in Fayetteville, please visit this survey.
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