Detroit adds hundreds of bus shelters

• In her campaign, Mayor Mary Sheffield pledged to improve the long-challenged bus system.

By the numbers: One in 20 bus stops had shelters as of last year, according to BridgeDetroit. That's 228 shelters out of more than 5,000 stops. Even fewer — 1.5% — had benches.

• Now, the city is using a mix of city, state and federal funds to install 210 new shelters and 200 benches through next year. The work is about halfway done.

Catch up quickly: In recent years, improvements to Detroit's bus system have included new platforms along Jefferson Avenue to make it easier to get on and off, better pay for drivers and mechanics and adding new buses. The rate of buses arriving on time is still below the industry standard.

• The Detroit Department of Transportation will get a new funding stream after Wayne County voters passed a new public transit millage in August.

What they're saying: "We've heard directly from riders throughout Detroit, especially our seniors, who need a place to sit while they wait for their rides," Sheffield said at a Monday press conference.

• "[After] seeing bus riders sit on all sorts of stuff, crates, buckets and everything, it shows that this administration cares and affirms that transit is a top priority," transit advocate Renard Monczunski said at the event.