Houston Metro Prototypes Bus Shelter Fans

The agency is working on designs for a bus stop shelter with built-in solar-powered fans to keep waiting riders cool.

2 minute read

August 20, 2023, 9:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


White metal and glass bus shelter at station with separated bus lane in downtown Houston, Texas

Bus shelter at downtown Houston bus rapid transit station. | Fotoluminate LLC / Adobe Stock

“A prototype shelter aimed at addressing some of Houston’s unique needs, including solar-paneled fans, could evolve into new structures at many Metropolitan Transit Authority bus stops,” reports Dug Begley in the Houston Chronicle.

Protection from sun and heat at transit stops can be crucial in cities like Houston as heat waves grow longer and more intense, but only 3,350 of Houston’s operational bus stops have shelters. “In downtown and many areas funded with management districts, bus shelters can be spacious, shady locations with benches. In tree-line neighborhoods, stops can be shady even if they are uncovered. Along some streets in Denver Harbor, Acres Homes, the bus stop is nothing more than a sign on a stick next to a drainage ditch on the side of the road.”

Now, the agency is developing designs for a bus shelter that will help riders keep cool in the brutal Houston summers. The solar panels used to operate the fans could also power lighting and arrival time screens. 

Metropolitan Transit Authority Chief Operating Officer Chuck Berkshire says the agency has been testing one design and is already planning changes. “The focus will be on getting one shelter designed and built, then modify from there, Berkshire said, for situations where a shelter might need to be smaller to fit along a certain sidewalk segment or have two-seat benches instead of three to accommodate a wheelchair user.”

With enough planning, Houston might avoid the derision aimed at L.A.’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority earlier this year, when the agency unveiled a shade structure dubbed ‘La Sombrita,’ widely criticized as a minimally effective effort that highlights the outsized obstacles posed by the city’s building code.

Friday, August 18, 2023 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Paved walking path next to canal in The Woodlands, Texas with office buildings in background.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50

A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

February 19, 2025 - Greg Flisram

Small rural USPS post office in manufactured one-story grey building with American flag in front.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes

Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

February 12, 2025 - Cowboy State Daily

Chicago

Test News Post 1

This is a summary

April 8 - 2TheAdvocate.com

test alt text

Test News Headline 46

Test for the image on the front page.

March 5 - Cleantech blog

Military humvee driving through gate at Fort Indiantown Gap Natl Guard training center in Pennsylvania surrounded by winter trees and dead leaves.

Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species

The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.

February 24 - Esri Blog