The two most-boarded bus stops on the Moscow Valley Transit fixed route now provide shelter from the elements and an artistically aesthetic place to sit.
The project, which installed benches and enclosures in front of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church and the Wallace Residence Center, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon. Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney and University of Idaho Interim President Steven Daley-Laursen spoke.

Daley-Laursen wore lapel pins featuring the emblems of both the City of Moscow and the University of Idaho, accentuating the point that the project was a partnership between the two entities. He said that he and Chaney worked as “two citizens of the town” to bring the project to fruition.
Chaney said the land for the bus shelter across from the Student Union Building was donated by St. Augustine’s.
Daley-Laursen, quoting Henrik Ibsen, said “a community is like a ship: everyone should be prepared to take the helm.

When creating a community for the 21st century, you’re not moving chairs or at the helm – you’re redesigning the concept.”
The shelters are adorned by the art of Lenore MacLeod-Bickley and Dan Stephens. MacLeod-Bickley’s piece, “Many Hats of the UI,” is at the Wallace shelter, and Stephens’s piece, “Palouse Wind,” is featured at the SUB’s shelter.

Delphine Keim-Campbell’s Art Design 322 class submitted proposals, which were then juried by the Moscow Arts Commission and the City of Moscow Senior Administration Staff.
Stephens’s piece, featuring leaves blowing among contours of hills, was described by the artist as inspired by “the experience of living in Moscow for so long.”

MacLeod-Bickley said her goal was depicting the variety among students.
“UI has a really great variety of students, not just one kind. I wanted to show how different UI students are,” she said.
Her piece features hats, glasses and facial hair at different levels on the glass to simulate costumes.

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