3.3 Proposed Improvement Measures for Delhi Metro Intermodal Function
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Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems 3.3 Proposed Improvement Measures for Delhi Metro Intermodal Function The selected four (4) Delhi Metro stations, representing four (4) typical groups, were studied to identify possible directions of the improvement of their intermodal transfer functions/systems as follows. 3.3.1 Suburban – Regional Center Station (Shahdara Station) There are 24 stations that can be categorized as “Suburban–regional center stations”. Among them, Shahdara Station is selected as a representative of this station type, that is, a station located in the regional center in suburban areas. This station requires comprehensive development with an integrated bus terminal. (1) Current Issues Identified from the Survey of Existing Conditions On observing the usage of the station plaza, it is found that transfer between train and bus is inconvenient. The bus station is located away from the station, because private car parking areas and motorcycle parking areas are located on both sides of the pedestrian entrance in the front of the station. The bus terminal for feeder mini-bus is not build, so the passengers use road side of the arterial road for loading and unloading. These boarding activities create an obstacle of drive lanes that become a course of traffic congestions during rush hours. Rickshaws, which are used by many passengers, stay on the road spaces around the station. (2) Proposed Measures for the Improvement of the Shahdara Station Physical problems and identified planning issues against a convenient transfer system are summarized in Table 3.3.1. This table also indicates proposed ideas on how to improve the station. The Improvement is proposed in a phased manner: Phase 1 and Phase 2, as follows. 39 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems Table 3.3.1 Issues and Measures for Improvement of the Shahdara Station Station Taxi/Auto/ Indian Railway Overall Intermodal Functions Pedestrian Facilities Bus Facilities/Services Private Vehicle Facilities/Parking Facilities Rickshaw Facilities/ Services Site It has a station plaza and It is dangerous to cross the Bus terminal is located far from Rickshaws Car and motorcycle parks are Observation connections with various road. the station due to the land standby beside always congested. transfer modes. limitation. roads to railway station. Findings from - There are requests for - Improvement needs of bus - Metro users - Many non-Metro users request - There are many Questionnaire installation of roofs (including facilities/services take up half of request more more private vehicle requests for Survey green shelters), moving the total improvement needs for space for an facilities/parking. improvement of walkways for pedestrian both Metro users and non-Metro auto rickshaw/ - While motorcycle park & ride the railway service passages to be used for users. rickshaw stand. users often request expansion of such as frequency transfers, etc., partly because - Major improvement need is for motorcycle parks, car parks, and and punctuality. walking distance between the bus services such as new feeder bicycle parks, car park & ride - Enhancement of station and the access modes bus routes, and more frequent users request expansion of car intermodal tends to be long. and punctual bus services. parks only. functions between - Over half of requests of - Requests that are related to - There are also significant railway and the pedestrian facilities made by further enhancement of the shares of requests for parking Metro is also Metro users transferring convenience are remarkable restriction against non-Metro requested such as to/from DTC bus are including shorter bus stop users, pick-up/drop-off space for shortcuts to especially concentrated on intervals, construction of bus private vehicles, closer transfer by a safe pedestrian crossing shelters (including waiting connection between parking dedicated passage facilities. facilities and information boards), facilities and the station. and synchronized introduction of a common Metro-rail Metro-bus card system, and operation. synchronized Metro-bus operation. Improvement - Signal control of traffic - Additional - Comfortable pedestrian - Extension of bus services into - Relocation of - Parking garage - Improvement of Measures around the station security check passage connecting with station plaza and construction of standby space - Parking restriction against railway station - Readjustment of facility lines, etc. railway station and bus bus bay for taxi, auto, non-Metro users without smart facilities layouts in the station plaza terminal (green shelter) - New feeder bus routes and rickshaw card - More frequent - Coordination among different - Pedestrian crossings and - Coordination of timetable with - Space for pick-up/drop-off and punctual transport modes signals the Metro railway services - Common smart card system - Coordination of with bus and railway timetable with the Metro Examples of - Rearrangement of flows of access traffic to station plaza and readjustment of connections to the trunk road Improvement - Example of layouts for access transport facilities in station plaza (Nagaoka) - Renovation of the station by adding sub-center functions and commercial facilities - Cases of Pasmo, Suica, etc. 40 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems Figure 3.3.1 Issues for Improvement of the Shahdara Station 41 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems Short-term Measures Based on the Interview Survey, it is identified that the most significant priority issue is to improve the connectivity with feeder bus services, as the existing bus terminal is located about 300 meters far from the Shahdara Station. More than half of respondents pointed out the needs of improvement of pedestrians’ safety and comfort levels. Thus, the short-tem improvement shall include these measures at least and some other physical improvement of intermodality, including the proposed ideas as follows (see Figure 3.3.1): In order to improve the connectivity with the bus and Metro services, the space for car parking adjacent to the station be partially converted to a terminal for the bus, including the installation of pedestrian’s crossings and signaling systems on the arterial road to/from the Station; The pedestrian path to/from the existing bus terminal (DTC’s facility) be improved with shelter (green shelter) for more comfortable access to the Station; Passengers’ drop-off/pick-up apron for cars and motorcycles be placed in front of the Station; Rickshaw pools be collectively placed to mitigate traffic congestions; and The number of windows/entrances for ticketing and security checking be increased to mitigate congestions at peak hours. Figure 3.3.2 Proposed Improvement Directions of the Shahdara Station Phase 1: Short-term Actions Signal Setting & Car Parking Pedestrian Crossing New Bus Terminal Pick-up space DTC Bus Terminal Motorcycle Rickshaw Pool Increase of Security Check Entrances Green Shelter 42 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems Figure 3.3.3 Short-term Actions- Road indication example 43 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems Medium- and Long-term Measures The Station Plaza should be designed and redeveloped in such a way that usages of public transportation modes are given priority with the following measures (See Figure 3.3.2): Expansion of the bus terminal facilities and taxi/Rickshaw pools; Expansion of temporary parking space and drop-off and pick-up aprons; and Construction of a Multi-storey Car Parking Building. Phase 2: Medium- and Long-term Actions Multi-storey Car & Readjustment of Station Motorcycle Parking Square to Bus Terminal Incorporated in the and Taxi / Auto Rickshaw Redeveloped Commercial / Rickshaw Stand & Building Drop-off Source: JICA Study Team (3) Example of Improvement Measures Many examples of station plaza development can be seen in Japan Railway stations. Nagaoka Station is one of the cases, as an example to rectify the flow of vehicles by mode, to separate the flow of buses, taxis and private cars, and to divide entrances and exits of vehicles. The number of passengers is 22,725 people per day and the area size of the station plaza is 12,000 m2. Bus terminal is connected by the underpass with the station as well as between each bus platform. 44 Strengthening Intermodal Transfer Functions of Urban Railway Systems 3.3.2 Suburban Station (Janak Puri West Station) Janak Puri West Station is an elevated railway station above a road in the suburban area. It does not have a station plaza, has no parking areas but offers feeder bus services. Surrounding area development is not planned by DMRC. The station is a representative of the suburban station in station type. Besides Janak Puri West Station, there are 16 other similar stations in station type. Janak Puri West Station requires development of spaces for a feeder bus station, private car, auto and cycle Rickshaw parking spaces and other terminal facilities, because it is a station used by many commuters to central areas. (1) Issues from the Survey of Existing Conditions At the Janak Puri West Station, there is a space to set up bus bays, next to the elevated railway station. However, the rickshaws go where there are waiting customers. In this case, it is under the elevated railway station and they become obstacles to the flow of traffic. They even wait around bus bays and become an obstacle in the driving lanes