Re-Inventing the Bus Stop Design Guidelines and Analysis for Transit-Friendly Parklets in Alameda County A Research Paper by Ben Kaufman Candidate for Master’s in Urban Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs A Comprehensive Project Submitted in Partial Satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Urban and Regional Planning Luskin School of Public Affairs UCLA Re-Inventing the Bus Stop: Design Guidelines and Analysis for Transit-Friendly Parklets in Alameda County Ben Kaufman June 2, 2015 Client: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Client Representative: Stephen Newhouse Faculty Advisor: Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris Disclaimer: Neither the University of California nor the School of Public Affairs either supports or disavows the findings in any project, report, paper, or research listed herein. University affiliations are for identification only, the University is not involved in or responsible for the project. Abstract The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is a public transportation agency in Alameda County, California that serves almost 200,000 bus riders per day. Like many transit agencies in the United States, most bus stops throughout its system lack basic amenities such as seating, shelter, lighting, and system information. The absence of such amenities can lead to unpleasant waiting experiences, and make it increasingly difficult for the agency to retain existing ridership and encourage new system users. Meanwhile, parklets have become an increasingly popular phenomenon in US cities since their inception in 2010. Parklets are privately driven public sidewalk extensions that frequently include many of the amenities that bus stops often lack, at no cost to the public. Despite their parallels, existing guidelines prohibit the installation of parklets at public bus stop locations. This paper explores the idea of combining these two urban facilities. The paper’s literature review outlines the benefits and limitations of both bus stops and parklets, the meta-analysis addresses the similarities and differences between the two treatments, and the suitability analysis considers where in Alameda County they can and should be located based on geographic, demographic, and land use data. After acknowledging potential challenges, the paper ultimately recommends AC Transit pursue the implementation of a hybrid bus stop-parklet pilot program to improve the comfort, convenience, safety, and security of riders throughout its system. Acknowledgements I would first and foremost like to thank my advisor, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, who was an incredible support throughout this process. She consistently provided me with prompt, substantive feedback on my writing and research and is probably cited more than any other academic in my bibliography on account of her extensive and compelling resarch on both parklets and bus stops. I would also like to thank Matt Brill of the SFMTA for encouraging me to pursue this idea during my 2014 summer internship, and for inspiring me to continue my research outside of the Agency. Many thanks as well to AC Transit’s Stephen Newhouse for his partnership on this project and for his commitment to turning this crazy idea into a reality. And finally, thank you to my family – and especially my mother – for your unyielding love and support during these stressful and penniless last couple of years. I owe you one. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Re-Inventing The Bus Stop: An Opportunity ......................................................................................... 1 What Is A Parklet? ................................................................................................................................... 2 What Is A Bus Bulb Out? ........................................................................................................................ 3 What Is A Stoplet? ................................................................................................................................... 5 Why Alameda County? ............................................................................................................................ 6 Project Background, Objective, And Overview ........................................................................................ 7 Literature Review ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Bus Stops .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Safety ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Security................................................................................................................................................ 12 Perception ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Efficiency ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Parklets .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Public Space ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Security................................................................................................................................................ 19 Safety ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Economics ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Design And Location Considerations ................................................................................................ 21 Questions and Methods ........................................................................................................................ 23 Meta-Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Determination Of Resources .............................................................................................................. 23 Research Structure .............................................................................................................................. 25 Research Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 25 Suitability Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 26 Determination Of Resources .............................................................................................................. 26 Research Structure .............................................................................................................................. 27 Research Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 28 Meta-Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Accessibility ............................................................................................................................................ 30 Dimensions ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Drainage .................................................................................................................................................. 36 Landscaping ............................................................................................................................................ 37 Lighting .................................................................................................................................................. 39 Materials ................................................................................................................................................. 41 Safety Features ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Seating .................................................................................................................................................... 46 Shelter ..................................................................................................................................................... 49 Signage .................................................................................................................................................... 52 Street Conditions .................................................................................................................................... 54 System Information ...............................................................................................................................