Cary considering art for town's bus shelters

"It makes it easier for the traveling public and people riding by, and it just makes it more attractive," Cary's cultural arts manager, Lyman Collins, said.

Last year, the council approved $30,000 to hire Chapel Hill artist Susan Page to come up with a design and prototype for the C-Tran bus shelters.

Page, who has designed bus shelters in Charlotte, came up with wallpaper designs, which will be inspired from wallpaper from historic town buildings and will be etched on glass so the panels stay transparent.

"I think it's important to improve our community and improve the appearance of our community," Cary resident Brian Blanchard said.

Other residents have called the project a waste of taxpayer money.

"I can understand that side, too," said Cary resident Ernie Myers, who supports the project. "That $30,000 could go to the public schools or to roads that have potholes. I can understand that."

C-Tran ridership has increased 30 percent this fiscal year from last, about 12,000 trips a month, town leaders say.

The proposal was expected to go before the Town Council Thursday evening. If approved, Cary bus riders could be looking at art by April.