Guidelines for Planning, Designing and Operating Transit-Related Street Improvements: Survey of September 1989 Current Practice 6
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l. Re pon :\o. FHWA/TX-90/1225-1 4. Title ano Suorn1e 5. Repon Date Guidelines for Planning, Designing and Operating Transit-Related Street Improvements: Survey of September 1989 Current Practice 6. Penonnmg Orgamzauon Code 7. Authon.sJ 8. Pen·onnmg Organtzauon Rcpon No. Robert W. Stokes, Paul Luedtke &Thomas Urbanik II Research Report 1225-1 9. Pcrionnmg Organiz.auon Name and Address 10. Wont Umt No. Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843 Research Study No. 2-18-89-1225 U. Sponwnng Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Repon and Penod Covered . September 1988 Texas State Department of Highways Interim - September 1989 and Public Transportation Transportation Planning Division 14. Sponsonng Agency Code P.0. Box 5051 11 .. .-+.;,., T,.,v:>c- 7P.7h.1 15. Suppiememary Notes Research performed in cooperation with Tex as SDHPT, DOT, and FHWA. Research Study Title: Preparation of a Texas Manual for Planning, Design, and Operation of Streets and Highways with Public Transportation Systems 16. Abstract This report summarizes the results of a national survey of state DOTs and local transit agencies concerning current practice in the planning, design and operation of transit-related street improvements. The summary of current practices is divided into four subsections: 1) Bus service planning guidelines; 2) Bus facility design guidelines; 3) Bus service operating considerations; and 4) Light rail transit (LRT) services. The results of the study indicate that basic practices do not differ substantially between the agencies surveyed, though differences were found in the level of detail contained in the various guidelines. The survey results also suggest that the need for improved coordination and cooperation between transit and highway agencies is a major concern of local transit service providers. Subsequent phases of this study will focus on developing transit-related guidelines which can be incorporated into the state's roadway planning and design manuals. 17. KcyWoros Bus service planning guidelines; 18. Dismbu11on Statement Bus facility design; Bus service operations; No restrictions. This document is Light· rail transit; Transit-related street available to the public through the improvements; Interagency cooperation/ National Technical Information Service coordination; Transit planning; Geometric 5285 Port Royal Road design; Traffic control; Surface streets; Springfield, Virginia 22161 Local streetc:. 19. Sccunty Oass1f. (of this report) 20. Sccunty Class1i. (of this page) 21. So. of Pages 22. Pncc Unclassified Unclassified 92 I Fonn DOT F 1700.7 (8-69) GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING, DESIGNING AND OPERATING TRANSIT-RELATED STREET IMPROVEMENTS: SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICE by Robert W. Stokes Associate Research Planner Paul Luedtke Research Assistant and Thomas Urbanik II Research Engineer Research Report 1225-1 Research Study Number 2-18-89-1225 Sponsored By Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843 September 1989 METRIC (SI*) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multlply By To Find Symbol Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Syrnbol LENGTH LENGTH - -- .. - - mm millimetres 0.039 inches in in inches 2.54 millimetres mm - .. - - m metres 3.28 feet ft ft feet 0.3048 metres m ~ - -- .. m metres 1.09 yards yd yd yards 0.914 metres m - - "' 0 km kilometres 0.621 miles mi mi miles 1.61 kilometres km - .. - - - !!! AREA - - AREA ~ - - mm2 millimetres squared 0.0016 square inches in2 !: m2 2 in2 square inches 645.2 millimetres squared mm2 - -- metres squared 10.764 square feet ft - - 2 2 ft2 square feet 0.0929 metres squared m2 - :e km kilometres squared 0.39 square miles mi yd2 square yards 0.836 metres squared m2 - ha hectares (10 000 m2) 2.53 acres ac "' - !!l mi2 square miles 2.59 kilometres squared km2 - - - - ac acres 0.395 hectares ha - !: MASS (weight) - - - :l g grams 0.0353 ounces "' - - oz MASS (weight) - :: kg kilograms 2.205 pounds lb - - Mg megagrams (1 000 kg) 1.103 short tons T - :: oz ounces 28.35 grams g - - lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg • - 2 VOLUME T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams Mg - - - "' - - ml millilitres 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz - l litres 0.264 gallons - gal VOLUME - m• - metres cubed 35.315 cubic feet ft' - m• metres cubed 1.308 cubic yards yd• fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 millilitres ml - gal gallons 3.785 litres l - - ft• cubic feet 0.0328 metres cubed m•. - TEMPERATURE (exact) - - yd• cubic yards 0.0765 metres cubed m• - - oc Celsius 915 (then Fahrenheit OF NOTE: Volumes greater than 1000 l shall be shown in m•. - temperature add 32) temperature - - Of - Of 32 ' 98.6 212 ;;· - - -40 0 I I I I I I I I , 2?0,j TEMPERATURE (exact) - I I I I .,~I 4 l!O.i ~ I .1~.I .1~.I i :r E I "CD u -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 .. - - "C 37 oC OF Fahrenheit 519 (after Celsius oc temperature subtracting 32) temperature These factors conform to the requirement of FHWA Order 5190.1A. * 51 is the symbol for the International System of Measurements ABSTRACT This report summarizes the results of a national survey of state DOTs and local transit agencies concerning current practice in the planning, design and operation of transit related street improvements. The summary of current practices is divided into four subsections: 1) Bus service planning guidelines; 2) Bus facility design guidelines; 3) Bus service operating considerations; and 4) Light Tail transit (LRT) services. The results of the study indicate that basic practices do not differ substantially between the agencies surveyed, though differences were found in the level of detail contained in the various guidelines. The survey results also suggest that the need for improved coordination and cooperation between transit and highway agencies is a major concern of local transit service providers. Subsequent phases of this study will focus on developing transit-related guidelines which can be incorporated into the state's roadway planning and design manuals. Keywords: Bus service planning guidelines; Bus facility design; Bus service operations; Light rail transit; Transit-related street improvements; Interagency cooperation/ coordination; Transit planning; Geometric design; Traffic control; Surface streets; Local streets. iii IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT This report summarizes the results of a national survey of state DOTs and local transit agencies concerning current practice in the planning, design and operation of transit related street improvements. The survey of current practice was performed as part of a larger study that will be directed at developing transit-related guidelines which can be incorporated into the Department's roadway planning and design manuals. The results of this survey should be useful to local, state, and federal transportation agencies in developing guidelines for transit-related street improvements. DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................... iii IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT ............................................................................................ v DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background and Study Objectives ............................................................................ 1 1.2 Study Method ................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 The Need For Cooperative Transit Planning ......................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2 - SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICE ............................................................... 7 2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Bus Service Planning Guidelines .......... .......... .......... ....................... ......... ..... ... .... .... 9 2.2.1 Service and Route Planning ........................................................................ 9 2.2.2 Bus Stops and Turnouts ............................................................................ 16 2.2.3 Waiting Areas and Shelters ...................................................................... 21 2.2.4 Pedestrian Access ....................................................................................... 25 2.2.5 Summary ....................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Bus Facility Design Guidelines ................................................................................ 28 2.3.1 Vehicle Specifications and Turning Radii .............................................. 28 2.3.2