Multimodal Transit Centers

Fully integrated intermodal transit centers enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve by giving the traveling public as many transportation mode choices as possible to complete their trip, including walking. Wendel has assisted clients in designing intermodal transit centers for over 30 years, from selecting the appropriate site, to programming, conceptual and detailed design, right on through to completed construction. 

 

While each transportation center is unique, our accumulated years of experience in designing them has taught us there are certain items consistently found to be key in their successful design, implementation and long-term operation. These all need to be solved and fully integrated into the design by the project team in collaboration with the transit providers. We can describe these key items as follows:

 

Pedestrian Safety and Walkability: This consistently grades out as the number one priority for transit providers as well as the number one challenge. Circulation patterns for a transportation station must minimize the number of times pedestrians have to cross vehicle paths, and where they must cross, provide appropriate pedestrian control and traffic calming measures to provide safe crossings.

Vehicle Type Separation: This is necessary for safe, efficient station operations, controlling site circulation, minimizing site congestion, avoiding accidents, and providing wayfinding clarity for all passengers and users. This is primarily accomplished by providing individual, dedicated ingress and egress points for each mode and vehicle type - local bus, intercity bus, shuttles, taxi’s, bicycles, Kiss and Ride, parking, and deliveries.

Traffic Control: Impacts to adjacent streets, roads and intersections must be addressed by a combination of several design features. These include providing separate ingress and egress points for each mode and vehicle type, appropriate use of one-way circulation on and off-site, restricted turning movements (i.e. “Right Turn Only”) for site egress points, and modifying existing and/or adding new traffic / intersection signalization and signage systems. 

Operational Flexibility: Vehicle staging and queuing areas must allow for enough independent movement of the various transportation vehicles and modes so they can provide optimum service for passengers using all modes, particularly at peak travel times.

Signage, Wayfinding and Amenities: The key to optimal customer service, as well as attracting “choice” riders, is to make their travel experience as enjoyable and anxiety-free as possible. Clear signage and wayfinding systems, including real-time information, are the keys to achieving this level of customer service. In addition, amenities such as electronic ticketing, wireless internet, kiosks and message boards with local current events, news and weather information, and multi-lingual information distribution, are integral to providing a positive passenger experience that results in regular ridership.

Federal Requirements: In order to successfully procure and retain Federal funding for transportation stations as well as successfully completing subsequent Federal Reviews, the design team must know and understand the Federal Transit Administration’s regulations that apply to transit projects. One of the key regulations is complying with the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) requirements. Since almost all of our transit projects have involved FTA (or its predecessor, UMTA), Wendel can guide and assist you through the process and in meeting these requirements.

Public Outreach and Agency Coordination Plan: Since transit centers belong to the communities and neighborhoods they serve, it is essential to inform the public about these projects from the very beginning of the process, before any design is done, so they feel included, have opportunity to provide input, and will ultimately support it. This is also a key expectation of the FTA as part of their conditions for funding a project. As with the public, key stakeholders, involved agencies, and public officials need to be included from the beginning as well so they can guide the project development, assist with obtaining the project funding, and help generate continued public support with the affected communities. Next to NEPA compliance, an effective Public Outreach and Agency Coordination Plan is the single biggest key to projects avoiding delays and having to “go back to square one”, thus losing valuable time and resources.