Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled the first solar-powered smart bench and smart bus shelter installed through his Great Streets Initiative, with South L.A.’s historic Central Avenue receiving the first of 15 installations planned across the city.
Located on the corner of 43rd Street and S. Central Avenue, the project is part of a Great Streets Studio pilot program to enhance the transit rider experience through interactivity and innovation. The new smart bench provides solar-powered USB charging ports for phones and devices, and the bus shelter features a Wi-Fi hot spot, USB charging ports, new energy-efficient LED lights, and integrated real-time arrival information for Metro and City buses.
“A big part of reinvigorating our Great Streets is making them more user-friendly, so the goal of this project is simple but meaningful: upgrade our bus shelters and benches with charging and WiFi to make waiting for the bus an opportunity, not a chore,” said Mayor Garcetti. “With this project, we’re integrating the existing infrastructure and the technology that we rely upon in our daily lives to re-imagine the digital urban experience. Central Avenue, already so rich with L.A. history and buzzing with activity, made for a perfect launching point to bring these innovations directly to Angelenos–and take a step in bridging our city’s digital divide.”
