Bus stop safety

“If it saves even one life …”

It’s a common response to tragedies that may or may not have been preventable. It’s a testament to our humanity that we are willing to undertake large efforts to mitigate infintesimal risks. It’s also smart politics.

But is it always good public policy?

Reacting to longtime concerns about bus stop safety and a September accident that killed four people waiting for transit, the city of Las Vegas is giving $1 million to the Regional Transportation Commission to purchase private property and move stops farther back from streets. Mayor Carolyn Goodman hopes it’s enough money to move up to 200 city bus stops back from speeding traffic.

For a city facing financial challenges on many fronts — growing personnel costs, a lack of maintenance funding and daunting future budget deficits — this isn’t the smartest use of $1 million. By all means, continue placing new bus stops and passenger shelters farther from the street, with bus turnout lanes. And Mayor Goodman is encouraging property owners to donate the parking lot space necessary to move older, existing bus stops back. Good idea.

But nothing — not a few more feet of space, not a covered bench, not a raised curb — can protect bus riders from a large sedan speeding at 100 mph with a drunken driver behind the wheel, as authorities allege happened in September at Spring Mountain Road and Decatur Boulevard.

Not even $1 million of taxpayer money.