Stations are all the buzz

Transit stations and interchanges are becoming modern day town squares, a new and enjoyable focal point for communities. This evolving dynamic needs to be taken into account when designing and planning stations.

While the space immediately outside the station needs to be designed to take account of peak periodic passenger movements, the social and commercial importance of this gathering space must not be underestimated. Stations are fast becoming a new form of community hub, or urban magnet, with places to shop, relax, enjoy a meal, or access information. Space needs to be provided for the people they attract, young and old, rich and poor, local and visitor.

We see similar development scenarios playing out at existing and newly developed transit stations throughout North America. Activity centered around the station creates potential markets for new commercial uses. Commuters seeking to minimize their commute time and expense want to live within reasonable walking distance of transit. Residents are attracted to these interesting and inviting spaces to spend time with friends, family, or on their own. Local governments see these areas as a positive focus for community events, activities, and a way to grow their tax base. These influences all work in concert to support transit uses and ultimately the success of the light rail or commuter rail.

Critical to the success of these urban spaces is considering how the stations and the surrounding community connect into the urban fabric of the area. The station and the adjacent public spaces must provide a pedestrian scale environment with logical and highly visible connections to the surrounding community. Barriers (physical, visual, or perceived) directly impact the potential success of the transit stations, successful public spaces, and surrounding development patterns. Providing easy access for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users is the key.

However, connectivity can be challenging, given that many fixed rail transit corridors in North America are being developed along historic freight rail lines or within busy road right of ways. It is critical that connectivity and urban integration of transit is considered from the very early stages of the corridor alternatives analysis. While former freight corridors and major roadways may provide space and lesser immediate physical impacts, they can be hostile environments for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. In many cases, instead of promoting transit usage and creating inviting urban environments, they result in transit stations far removed from the places people want to live, work, or socialize.

Our approach is to take rail transit directly to the places people want to be. Make it as simple as possible to access with minimal physical and visual barriers. Create transit stations that are an asset to the community, by focusing the design on the needs of the user. We have taken exactly this type of design approach on several projects with successful results. Current examples include;

1st & Main Station – Longmont, CO
We are developing a Station Area Master Plan for a future Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail station and bus intermodal site. Working with the City of Longmont, our remit is to design a plan that will transition the station neighborhood, located along an existing freight rail corridor south of downtown Longmont, from an industrial area to an new destination, fully integrated into the fabric of the city’s center.

Ealing Broadway – London, UK
Working with London Borough of Ealing, Crossrail, and Transport for London, we are redesigning the entrance to the Ealing Broadway rail station and improving the urban realm in the wider interchange area around Haven Green (a district park). Key changes we are proposing include removal of pedestrian guard rail and a wall on the front of the station, which block movement to and from the station, Haven Green and the town center. Road and footpath alignments have also been reconsidered and, where possible, sidewalks have been widened and road lanes narrowed. This will ease movement at pinch points in the sidewalk network, where overcrowding is a problem. It also reduces crossing distances, enhancing the connectivity across the interchange area and the town center. Consistent material and street palettes will be used to enhance the legibility of the interchange and to facilitate wayfinding.

TransLink – Vancouver, BC
We recently completed the development of Transit Passenger Facility Design Guidelines for TransLink in Vancouver. The Guidelines focus on creating a consistent approach to the design of transit facilities and integrating them into the surrounding community, as well as ensuring that all modes of accessing the station are fully incorporated through simple and effective design approaches. It provides a comprehensive design approach to addressing the passenger experience, transit operations, urban design and placemaking, environmental sustainability, and accountability throughout the TransLink network.