Design and Placement of Transit Stops

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Design and Placement of Transit Stops Guidelines Design and Placement of Transit Stops Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority DECEMBER 2009 FINAL REPORT Prepared by: KFH GROUP, INC. Guidelines for the Design and Placement of Transit Stops for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Final Report December, 2009 Under Subcontract to: P2D Prepared for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 4920 Elm Street, Suite 350 — Bethesda, Maryland — (301) 951-8660 — FAX (301) 951-0026 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Section 1 -- Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1-1 Purpose................................................................................................................................. 1-1 Contents of Report .............................................................................................................. 1-1 Section 2 – Bus Stop Placement and Type ............................................................................. 2-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 Bus Stop Locations.............................................................................................................. 2-1 Curb-Side Bus Stop.............................................................................................................2-8 Curb Bulb........................................................................................................................... 2-11 Bus Bay............................................................................................................................... 2-12 Curb Heigh......................................................................................................................... 2-15 Section 3 – Bus Stop Elements and Passenger Amenities ................................................... 3-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3-1 Bus Stop Hierarchy .............................................................................................................3-1 Bus Stop Signs ..................................................................................................................... 3-4 Bus Stop Sign Post............................................................................................................... 3-6 Information Case................................................................................................................. 3-7 Lighting ................................................................................................................................ 3-9 ADA Landing Pads/Passenger Waiting Area.............................................................. 3-10 Freestanding Bench........................................................................................................... 3-12 Shelters................................................................................................................................ 3-13 Trash Receptacles.............................................................................................................. 3-17 Vendor Boxes..................................................................................................................... 3-17 Bus Stop Prototypes.......................................................................................................... 3-18 Bus Shelter Maps............................................................................................................... 3-24 Incorporation of Public Art.............................................................................................. 3-26 Table of Contents Page Section 4 – Bus Stop Spacing and Consolidation Impact Analysis.................................... 4-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 Spacing Guidelines.............................................................................................................4-2 Bus Stop Consolidation Impact Analysis ........................................................................ 4-4 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 4-14 Appendix A: Local Jurisdiction Standards and Guidelines Jurisdictions within the Metro Service Area .................................................................. A-1 Other Transit Systems that Operate within the Metro Service Area.......................... A-5 Summary of Standards, Guidelines, Policies, and Practices Currently Followed in the Region ............................................................................................... A-7 Appendix B: Other Resources Reviewed Literatures Review..............................................................................................................B-1 Examples of Bus Stop Location and Design Standards in Other Areas....................B-12 Appendix C: Public Input Appendix D: Findings for the 103 Analyzed Metrobus Lines Final Report - Introduction Section 1 Introduction PURPOSE The bus stop guidelines provided in this report are intended to provide Metro and its jurisdictional partners specific physical design criteria to be integrated with local comprehensive plan policies, land use ordinances, pedestrian plans, and street design guidelines. The design guidelines may also be used as a basis when working with local jurisdictions in planning access improvements to transit facilities. Developers or builders who are interested in developing transit friendly projects may also make use of these design guidelines. CONTENTS OF REPORT The design guidelines developed in this report are based on a review of current guidelines used by the local jurisdictions in the Metro service area, discussions with Metro staff and regional partners, input received at the public open house, a literature review, and review of standards and guidelines used in other metropolitan areas. Appendix A provides a detailed documentation of existing bus stop standards, guidelines, policies, and practices in the local jurisdiction. Appendix B provides a detailed summary of locally and nationally published bus stop design resources and examples of standards and guidelines in other areas. In addition to the extensive review of existing bus stop standards and guidelines, an effort was also made to solicit input from the public through an Open House. The public, the local jurisdiction, and stakeholders were notified and invited to the Open House. Information collected at the Open House is provided in Appendix C. The following sections of this report are organized as follows: • Section 2: Bus Stop Placement and Type. This section presents guidelines for improving bus passenger experience at the street level. Provided are discussions of appropriate bus stop placement relative to the intersection and Development of Guidelines for the Design and Placement of Transit Stops for WMATA 1-1 Final Report - Introduction different types of street-side designs such as on-street stops, curb-bulbs, and bus bays. • Section 3: Bus Stop Elements and Passenger Amenities. This section presents guidelines for improving the accessibility to bus stops and the coordination of bus stop elements such as bus stop signs, bus stop posts, information cases, customer information, bus stop shelters, benches, bus stop lighting, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) landing pads, trash receptacles, vendor boxes, and art at transit stops. Also provided in this section are prototypical designs of bus stop facilities that are typical for the Washington Metropolitan region. • Section 4 – Bus Stop Spacing: This section presents guidelines on appropriate spacing between bus stop locations and an analysis of the current spacing between stops for the Metrobus lines. Applying the recommended bus stop spacing, four bus stop consolidation scenarios were developed identifying potential running time and cost savings. Development of Guidelines for the Design and Placement of Transit Stops for WMATA 1-2 Final Report – Bus Stop Placement and Type Section 2 Bus Stop Placement and Type INTRODUCTION The following guidelines focus on the needs of bus operators and bus passengers in the road right of way. Proper planning for bus facilities should be a major part of most road design. Safety is the most important consideration in planning for pedestrian facilities linking bus stops to passengers’ origins and destinations. Therefore pedestrian facilities, such as clear demarcation of pedestrian crossings and the provision of properly designed sidewalks, should be given high priority in the design of streets. Universal design solutions should be utilized so that all people, with the widest range of abilities and circumstances can have equal access to transit. Universal design differs from the ADA Accessible Guidelines (ADAAG) in that while the ADAAG prescribes minimum design criteria to accommodate most persons with disabilities, universal design takes into consideration the broader population (i.e. children, seniors, bicyclists, parents pushing strollers) including persons with disabilities. More information can be found regarding universal design in the Principles of Universal Design by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. BUS STOP LOCATIONS The
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