State Street bus shelters have been permanent fixtures in the neighborhood for over 20 years, but unpopular look and difficulty of maintenance have spurred groups to come up with a new, cleaner design.

Details of the design have not been decided although the committee has a basic style in mind, known as the “New Amsterdam”.

With its minimal design and all-glass panels, committee members are hoping the style will compliment the project’s other planned features, while not taking away from the street’s character.

Mary Lang Sollinger, chair of the Downtown Coordinating Committee said the bus shelters are an eye sore.

“They look like Fort Knox.”

The shelters’ lack of aesthetics is just one of the many issues addressed by the State Street Design Project.

The DCC met Tuesday to discuss the future of State Street bus shelters.

Members of the committee agreed durability and functionality were the most important factors in proposed designs, which they believe current shelters lack.

The shelters are seen as too clumsy and heavy for the street’s atmosphere and critics say current shelters often block the streets’ merchants and are seen as unwelcoming by many residents.

“Bus shelters are the second most visible element on the street,” Sollinger said. She said she thinks “smaller is better” as far as shelters go because it allows a large amount of walking space for pedestrians.

In the early stages of the Design Project, there was talk of removing bus shelters altogether, however, this idea was dismissed due to the importance of the State Street bus route.

Sollinger said State Street is one of the most highly used areas for buses and it would be difficult to take away an amenity that people have come to expect. With the elimination of bus shelters no longer a possibility, the committee has discussed using the shelters as “information centers”.

Donna Salverson, project manager for the Madison Ambassador Program, is a supporter of this proposal.

Salverson suggested the shelters be used for more than their obvious and primary function and incorporate “busy furniture” that otherwise would be cluttering street corners.

Salverson said she would like to see amenities such as newsbanks, trash cans and phone banks incorporated into the new design to create a cleaner appearance and cut down on vandalism one of the committee’s other primary concerns.

Salverson said students often are not aware of the vandalism or littering that occurs on State Street. Groups such as Mall Maintenance and the Ambassador Program are in charge of keeping these issues under control. For this reason, Salverson asserts the new design should also be one that is easier to maintain.

“Graffiti guard” is a new concept that may aid in minimizing maintenance.

A task force from the Downtown Coordinating Committee is currently reviewing the product. Graffiti guard is a film that covers the glass, makes it difficult to damage and may be removed should vandalism occur.

Despite the amount of concern over the shelters, committee members acknowledge that they are simply fixtures.

Mark Olinger, Director of City Planning believes it is important to cut down on the amount of space that “inanimate objects” take up because, after all, “It’s the people that animate the space on State Street.”