JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Public bus stops in an area of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said her administration is prioritizing are about to get a splash of color.
A Jacksonville Transportation Authority spokesperson said more than 100 bus stops in Northwest Jacksonville have been improved and look like the bus stop hub on Soutel Drive. The improvements include shelters, lighting and a digital board with wait times.
Soon art will be featured at seven bus stops along the route from the Soutel Drive bus hub to Harvey’s grocery store, the spokesperson said. Artists said the bus stops will be used to tell Northwest Jacksonville's story.
“Sometimes the stories you get, the narrative that people live with when they’re not from here is that the Northside is a horrible side of town and it’s not," said Erin Kendrick, one of the artists whose work may be featured at the bus stops. "There’s families here, there’s communities here.”
On Tuesday at an event at the Legends Center, the community voted on which art they want to see. Several of the artists grew up in the area and called public transportation part of their childhood.
“It’s great to see the city shine a light on the Northside and really start to invest more time and energy and money into the northside,” Kendrick said.
Deegan said infrastructure and health initiatives are being prioritized in this part of the city. The mayor’s office said lack of a personal vehicle is more prevalent in the zip code that includes Grand Park and Magnolia Gardens than in nearly 98% of the country.
“Sometimes when you’re using public transportation, you’re susceptible to the weather and it can be a very stressful experience sometimes," said Chris Clark, another artist whose work may be featured at bus stops. "So seeing something that brightens your day, I think, is very positive.”
Along with the bus stop improvements like shelter and lighting, artists hope this project will prop up a community they believe is often overlooked.
“Hopefully people will feel seen in these spaces,” said Kendrick.
A JTA spokesperson said the decision about which art will be featured at the bus stops will be announced Thursday.