Guidelines for Providing Access to Public Transportation Stations (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 19-32
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From page 19... ...
Elements of Successful Station Access Planning The case studies identified nine primary areas that are considered by transit agencies as part of their station access programs: • Local station area context • Collaboration with local and regional stakeholders • Local and private concerns • Station access planning guidelines • Data requirements • Predictive and analytical tools • Short- and long-term cycle station access planning • Performance tracking and evaluation • TOD policy Local Station Area Context An important challenge is that both outcome and process success -- particularly outcome success -- depend substantially on a given station's setting, defined as those external factors that affect the results but are subject to only limited control by the planning process. Contextual factors include: rapid transit and station characteristics; existing land use; available land; market demand; demographics; spacing, continuity, and connectivity of the pedestrian circulation system -- including the presence of sidewalks; structure of the regional transportation network; patterns of congestion; and community politics, goals, and plans.
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From page 20... ...
Rapid transit agencies must work with such partners, must engage in ongoing collaboration (because station access needs and the external factors that affect them are not static) , and must be proactive in reaching out to partners, even those that may be disinterested in rapid transit access planning.
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From page 21... ...
In some cases, it is in the best interest of the transit agency to redirect its efforts to other settings, potentially moving a station to an area with greater transit support. Station Access Planning Guidelines Several case study transit agencies have developed and used formal station access planning guidelines that provide a framework within which the access planning team operates.
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They should define goals and criteria, but they should allow trade-offs among the collaborators so that reasonable station access services and facilities can be implemented. Data Requirements Comprehensive and timely data are an important input to the station access planning process.
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Several transit agencies use proprietary models usually developed by consultants. This is a critical gap in available tools, particularly given the important role that station access services play in the success of major capital investment in rapid transit systems.
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Considering the long-term context of a station while in the initial design phases gives the transit agency the ability to plan for shifts in station access modes over time. TriMet successfully used this strategy in the design of a transit center and surface park-and-ride lot that were in an undeveloped area when the station was opened.
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From page 25... ...
Timely information on station access mode characteristics is essential for effective service and facility planning. Effective data collection for station access planning should include up-to-date information on the costs and usage of providing various access facilities (e.g., feeder transit, parking facilities, bike parking)
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From page 26... ...
Effectively identifying and implementing access improvements requires transit agency staff with a thorough understanding of its agency goals, station access principles, process tools, and local context. Staff must be dedicated to dealing with station access issues and local stakeholders on a regular basis to achieve this level of understanding, and must have negotiation and compromise expertise.
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From page 27... ...
• Agencies with significant joint development opportunities benefit from standardized joint development policies, such as Metro's Joint Development Policies and Procedures, which establish desired outcomes and evaluation criteria for proposed developments. • Successful joint development requires frequent interagency coordination, as joint development almost always requires approval from at least two agencies (the transit agency and the local jurisdiction)
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Between 2005 and 2010, the MBTA sold or leased rights for more than 50 TODs. • The success of many station access improvement strategies depends on both transit agency and local jurisdiction commitment, but local jurisdictions vary widely in their commitment to improving transit.
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• Timely data on station access mode characteristics is critically important for effective service and facility planning. Periodic intercept surveys of station access modes and preferences supports trend-tracking and provides objective information for planning and decision making.
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From page 30... ...
This result contributed to ongoing restructuring and simplification of service to focus less on local buses entering the busway and instead on having passengers transfer from local bus to BRT. • Established design principles, such as OC Transpo's Light Rail Design Guidelines, allow station access planning and design to proceed more efficiently.
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From page 31... ...
• Establishing policy to support bicycle access while minimizing the impacts of bicycles brought on-board transit vehicles is important in regions where bicycling is a significant and increasing mode of travel. • Transit agencies benefit from having evaluation criteria connected to agency-wide goals to assess potential station access improvements.
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From page 32... ...
• WMATA has a broad range of station access modes. Pedestrian access dominates in many densely developed areas.
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