June 12, 2025 | Posted In News, Uncategorized
Tolar Manufacturing Celebrates Milestone 150th Bus Shelter Installation in Los Angeles’ Koreatown as part of Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program
Tolar Manufacturing Company proudly joined city leaders, community members, and project partners in Koreatown in Los Angeles on June 5 to celebrate the installation of the 150th bus shelter under the City of Los Angeles’ Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program (STAP). The ceremony marked a major milestone in the City’s ambitious initiative to modernize the transit experience across all neighborhoods with shade, comfort, and digital amenities at 3,450 bus stops, with 150 shelters now installed and 250 projected by the end of the year. This marks the start of a 10-year citywide project aimed at modernizing the transit experience by installing 3000 tech-enabled, comfortable, and aesthetically integrated bus shelters and 450 shade structures where they’re needed most—guided by data on ridership, urban heat, and accessibility.
Hosted by the City of Los Angeles, the event featured remarks from Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Heather Hutt, as well as representatives from the Board of Public Works and program partners. “Koreatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles with over 100,000 residents. Many of our seniors and young people rely on public transportation to get to work and everywhere else,” said Commissioner Steve Kang of LA City Department of Public Works. The program will provide amenities to 75% of bus riders in each of the city’s council districts, helping to encourage ridership and connect communities throughout Los Angeles.
“Our communities are connected, we share buses, sidewalks, and the summer heat. And when there’s no shade, we share the need for shelter like the one we are unveiling today,” said City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez of District 1. Already more than 20,000 riders are benefiting from the new shelters. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $5 in economic returns—underscoring the broader economic value of projects like STAP that enhance infrastructure, connect communities, and support local jobs.
The custom 12-ft Signature bus shelters were inspired by California Modernism and are designed as an easy-to-assemble kit of parts, tailored for scalability and customization across diverse neighborhoods. The Signature bus shelters feature a modern angled aluminum flat roof below an upper structure of 3-in sq. steel tube framing, including a three-part ceiling, wrap-around aluminum skin, and perforated rear screen. Under roof LED illumination provides passenger security. The bus shelters will also feature digital solutions including LED backlit rectangular display plates offering real-time information, smart light communications, location branding, RTIS, and optional emergency call box communications, all powered by solar or 110V inset into the bus shelter end wall.
Led by Tranzito-Vector, the project brings together a team of design experts to develop and execute the program including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Designworks BMW, Studio One Eleven, Fehr & Peers, HLB Lighting, and Tolar Manufacturing. Tolar Manufacturing was selected for its extensive expertise in creating high-quality transit amenities that enhance the rider experience and is responsible for fabricating state-of-the-art shelters designed by SOM. All shelters are fabricated at Tolar’s facility in Corona, California, under full Build America, Buy America (BABA) compliance.
