Two more instances of vandalism targeting Kingston Transit property has prompted Jeremey DaCosta, head of Kingston Transit, to ask for an end to the destruction.
“If there’s one message I could share with the community — please stop,” said DaCosta.
On Monday, near the corner of Taylor Kidd Boulevard and Bayridge Drive, part of a bus shelter was smashed to pieces.
But on a more concerning note, on Friday evening just before 10 p.m., at a bus stop near the Division and York streets intersection, a projectile was suddenly hurled into the window of a Kingston Transit bus.
According to DaCosta, there were people on the bus at the time of the impact, but he couldn’t say how many. None of them were injured, and although the projectile damaged the glass, it didn’t shatter the window completely.
“We’re not sure what caused it to break,” said DaCosta, who added that the bus driver didn’t see anyone nearby when the projectile hit the bus.
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The head of Kingston Transit said that incidents like these are very rare, but nevertheless, aiming at buses filled with people are a serious safety concern.
“Any time somebody throws a projectile at a moving vehicle, especially a public transit bus, there’s a risk that the passengers may be injured or a bus operator as well,” DaCosta noted.
Kingston police were contacted for more information, but would not give any details about the incident. When asked whether these acts of vandalism were related to a previous string of bus shelters allegedly shot with projectiles, Const. Cam Mack said “It is too soon to say if there is any relation.”
On April 8, a Kingston Transit passenger reported a “projectile” smashing the glass of a bus shelter at Weller Avenue and Triliium Court.
After an investigation, Kingston police released information about a driver in a black Chrysler 300, who allegedly pulled up to the bus shelter at Weller Avenue at Trillium Court and then shot the glass with a pellet gun.
Kingston police also released information about a string of bus shelters allegedly shot with a pellet gun on March 7, one on Highway 15 at Barrett Court, another on Highway 15 at Grenadier Drive, and the last on Highway 2 at the Royal Military College.
As of Tuesday, it’s unclear who was responsible for any of the Kingston Transit damage.
For DaCosta, the vandalism comes at a price to taxpayers.
“There is a hard cost to this,” DaCosta said. “The costs are going to be borne by the public.”
He says the replacement of the bus window will cost around $1,000, and every time a piece of glass is broken at a bus shelter, the cleanup and repair ranges between $500 and $1,000.
DaCosta hopes that if anyone sees damage being done to transit property that they will report the incident to police.
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