SORTA to sell advertising to pay for bus benches

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Council approved an ordinance that would allow the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority to sell advertising on bus benches to provide seating at stops that lack shelters, WVXU reports.

In a separate ordinance, the city agreed to stop removing currently illegal benches at some stops unless they are unsafe. In 2009, city council passed a measure prohibiting all advertising on benches in the right-of-way including bus stops, but enforcement did not begin until January 2013 because of a three-year court fight.

From February to July 2015, the city removed 68 benches and issued fines to companies with benches at some bus stops, forcing residents to complain to city officials that their benches had been removed. For the full story, click here.