King County Metro’s ‘24/7’ commitment to bus shelter cleaning

At King County Metro, we know the importance to our riders of a clean and inviting bus stop. That’s why we’ve moved our cleaning teams to around-the-clock service, introduced a cool new tool to scrub sidewalks and are transitioning to clear polycarbonate in many of our bus shelters.

Cleaning around the clock

Metro Facilities Superintendent Jose Reyna and his teams are pleased to now provide shelter cleaning for three, eight-hour shifts per day.

“Metro upgrading to more frequent cleanings of bus shelters lets us respond more quickly,” Reyna said. “Also, we will have more intense cleaning coverage on weekends. We’re definitely stepping up our service.”

As always, reports from riders help Metro ensure we’re always providing high-quality transit service. Visit Bus Stop/Shelter Feedback – King County Metro Transit or call 206-553-3000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. After hours, people can use the online Metro shelter feedback site.

“If riders have concerns about the cleanliness of a bus shelter, please let us know,” said Metro Transit Section Manager Seema Sharma. “The phone number is also posted on every bus stop. Our goal is to respond to concerns within 24 hours.”

Our latest cleaning tool

Another way that Metro is improving the customer experience is through an innovative, upright sidewalk and surface cleaner.

These new, industrial orbital surface scrubbers “help us improve the daily maintenance of our shelters and transit centers,” said Reyna. “This powerful tool uses cleaners and hot water to quickly and powerfully clean and deodorize surfaces.”

Reyna added that another important benefit is that the machine —unlike a power washer—doesn’t produce a dangerous spray. This means that cleanings can occur at all times of day and while riders are present.

Polycarbonate for the win

You may have noticed a “clear” change in many of Metro’s shelters. In more than 1,100 shelters (about 60 percent of our total), we’ve introduced polycarbonate in place of glass. Polycarbonate has lots of benefits—for looks, safety and the environment. That means a more inviting and more comfortable place to wait for a bus.

The lightweight, highly transparent material offers excellent visibility and strong protection against the elements for riders waiting in shelters. It even looks good even after repeated washings.

Polycarbonate is also more resistant to graffiti as well as breakage from vandalism. This reduces the need for paint removal, avoids a rider hazard and prevents expensive repairs.

Metro is excited to offer polycarbonate shelters to our customers. Polycarbonate is more resilient and is safer for the community because there’s no shattered glass to worry about. That means more reliable shelters for our customers. It’s also a great switch for employees. It’s a lighter material means less on-the-job injuries during installation. Staff can maintain it more easily, too, and there’s quicker delivery for polycarbonate than the glass we used previously.

Additionally, polycarbonate is environmentally friendly. It’s 100-percent recyclable and can be washed with mild soap and water. Bus operators say polycarbonate offers excellent visibility to spot riders waiting in shelters.

Metro initially turned to polycarbonate because of supply chain issues with glass as well as repeated breakage at certain shelters. Sometimes, crews would install glass, and it would be broken within 24 hours.  That could make stops cold and windy. Ensuring our customers can wait in shelter reliably out of the wind and rain is a great benefit to offer riders.