Station Access and the Modern Transit System

Chris A. Hale

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

9-2011

Subject Area

infrastructure - interchange/transfer, infrastructure - station, land use - planning, land use - transit oriented development, land use - urban design, mode - mass transit, mode - rail, planning - integration

Keywords

rail station, access, station access, pedestrian infrastructure, cycling infrastructure, park & ride, feeder bus

Abstract

A discussion of new starting points for better, more proactive station access planning approaches. Station access planning is re-emerging as a vital component of the overall suite of initiatives needed to make public transport systems work effectively. Without proactive access planning and access infrastructure improvement, the overall travel experience for public transport users is invariably diminished, and it may be that significant ridership potential is also forgone. It is only through a view that supports and enhances the “total journey” (including access and egress) that transit can compete with private travel alternatives. The paper analyses figures for station access and egress in the BART network (of the San Francisco Bay Area) – and uses these figures to develop station access “typologies” or “categories”. Interpretation from the figures and the categories is then delivered with a view to informing new efforts in access assessment, planning, design, and infrastructure provision. Advanced station access planning approaches would look at multi-modal and transit transfer questions, but also address pedestrian and bike access elements. But a first step may be to clearly understand actual access/egress usage, in order to then determine how planning and infrastructure development should proceed, based on preferred outcomes.

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Publication website: http://www.patrec.org/atrf.aspx

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