Four new bus shelters on the way for transit riders

EL PORTAL

BY RODOLFO ROMAN
Special to The Miami Herald
El Portal bus riders will soon be able to put their umbrellas away -- at least while they wait for their rides. The village will get four new bus shelters, to replace its unsheltered bus benches.

The village council recently approved a resolution allowing the bus shelters. Two shelters will be installed on North Miami Avenue, while the other two will be placed on Northeast Second Avenue.

The bus shelters will cost $25,500 and will be paid using federal stimulus funds, said Village Manager Jason Walker.

Walker says the shelters will come in handy.

``It is important to provide shelter during the rain season for El Portal residents utilizing Miami-Dade Transit,'' he said. The current benches are fairly old and have advertisements, Walker said. The new benches will omit ads. Councilman Harold Mathis says the equipment will improve El Portal's appearance.

``The shelters will be that added touch toward the village's improvement goals,'' Mathis said.

The bus shelters will be installed sometime next year, after the council has approved the final design.