Grant to fund new shelters, benches at 3 Costa Mesa bus stops

Costa Mesa will use a grant to improve three bus stops along Harbor Boulevard, according to a city news release.

The $79,820 grant from Orange County’s Measure M2 sales tax for transportation projects will be used to install new shelters, benches and other amenities for one stop at Victoria Street and two near Wilson Street.

The project also will include new decorative sidewalks.

Anaheim-based Unique Performance Construction is scheduled to complete the work in March.

The project is in addition to other bus bench and shelter projects that began last year.

Those projects — which included removing bus shelters — faced some initial criticism from those who felt the lack of shelters would hurt everyday bus riders. City officials contended that the stops were being frequented by homeless people and drug users and, as a result, became unsanitary for regular bus riders.

Some of the shelters have been replaced. New benches with partitions, designed to deter people from sleeping on them, also were installed.