Sometimes leadership isn’t about launching something new. It’s about fixing what’s been missing all along.

As the new year begins, cities across the country are setting goals, refining priorities, and approving budgets. The themes are familiar: equity, accessibility, climate resilience, economic vitality, and quality of life.

And so are the constraints.

New goals. New priorities. The same reality: tight budgets, limited staff capacity, and residents who want to see progress — not just hear about it.

This is where small, overlooked details often reveal the biggest gaps.

Take bus stop seating.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many bus stops in America are nothing more than a pole, a patch of dirt, and a whole lot of hope, here’s the truth that still surprises people every year:

👉 Transit agencies are not required to provide seating.

Transit agencies operate buses, manage routes, and schedule service. But the sidewalk, the ADA landing zone, and the amenities that make waiting safe and humane? That’s typically city-owned right-of-way.

The result is a quiet disconnect — and riders are left standing. A bus bench isn’t a luxury. It’s essential public infrastructure.

Seating at bus stops:

• Improves accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities
• Reduces perceived wait time
• Enhances safety and comfort
• Makes transit more usable in extreme heat or cold
• Supports equity for essential workers, students, and older adults
• Shapes how residents judge the city’s transit system

Small amenity. Big daily impact.

Residents notice immediately when seating is missing — and they notice when it’s added. These aren’t ribbon-cutting projects, but they are the kinds of improvements that quietly improve daily life and signal that a city is paying attention.

As budgets are finalized and work plans take shape, it’s worth asking: Where are residents still standing because no one “owned” the solution?

Leadership in the new year doesn’t always mean adding another initiative, study, or program. Sometimes it means closing a gap that’s existed for years — in a way that’s practical, visible, and fiscally responsible.

Fixing what’s been missing can be one of the most meaningful goals a city sets all year.

The Good News: Cities Don’t Have to Pay for Any of It

This is where COA’s public–private partnership steps in.

For 41 years and 320+ partnerships, we’ve helped cities provide:

👉 High-quality, durable, ADA-compliant bus benches and public-space recycling — at zero cost to the city.

No budget line. No maintenance. No operational strain. No new staff.

Just a partnership that works.

The city keeps full control — over locations, approvals, sponsorships, and all content.

Residents get the amenities they deserve. Staff get relief from another responsibility. Budgets get a break.

🚏 Interested in exploring a no-cost bench program for your city?