City pares down street furniture plan
Pattison Outdoor is favoured to install new bus shelters like these in City Centre.
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A lack of firms bidding on city contract to supply street furniture across Richmond has forced city hall to rethink its plan.
Hundreds of new bus shelters, benches and trash cans, along with new receptacles for recyclables and newspapers were to be supplied, installed and maintained by a contractor in a 20-year deal.
Although nine firms responded to an expression of interest, only one, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, submitted a proposal.
The city is blaming the economy, limited advertising market potential and the contract’s large scope as reasons for the change of heart among potential contractors.
Staff are now recommending scrapping plans for a 20-year deal, and signing a five-year deal with Pattison instead.
According to transportation planner Joan Caravan, Pattison’s proposal doesn’t provide a full complement of requested street furniture and said the flagging “economic conditions are not conducive to the city committing to a long-term arrangement.”
Under the new deal, Pattison would install nine new bus shelters—most on No. 3 Road— and refurbish eight existing shelters in City Centre before the Olympics.
Another 29 bus stops will get a repaint and trash cans with a cage for recyclables and three multiple newspaper racks will be installed outside Canada Line Stations.
Pattison would recoup costs through advertising revenue.
No other street furniture will be built or replaced.
The firm will also have to agree to allow the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games to access all advertising space during the Games in most areas of City Centre.
The new contract would net the city approximately $72,000 in revenue.
City council is expected to vote on the proposal Monday.
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