chapter 5: treatment toolbox Complete Streets for Transit
A G UIDE TO COMPLETE STREET S
Complete Streets and public transportation planning go hand in hand. Every transit trip requires crossing the street at least once, and a Complete Streets policy ensures those streets have safe crossings and accessible sidewalks to get passengers, regardless of ability, from the bus or train to where they need to go (Seskin 2009). Complete Streets policies should encourage people to use public transit by making it a safe, convenient and attractive option. Not only must people be able to easily access transit stops and stations, but transit vehicles must also be able to operate efficiently and connect users to destinations. Transit agencies aren’t always consulted when roads are designed, so a Complete Streets policy can enable decision makers to prioritize transit through roadway improvements and design solutions for efficient bus movement. Bus-only lanes, curb bump-outs and bus priority signalization are just some of the tools available to make transit trips faster and more reliable—and usually in the toolboxes of communities with Complete Streets policies (Seskin 2009). Streets that are well designed for transit can also encourage people to use transit more frequently. For example, in 2000 Los Angeles launched a rapid bus service which allowed buses to extend green lights and shorten red ones if needed. As a result, within the first year travel time decreased by 25 percent and ridership increased by more than 30 percent (National Complete Streets Coalition n.d.). Suburban Bus Stops There are five main elements to a safe suburban bus stop (Airport Corridor Transportation Association n.d.). These are: •
Clear, accessible pathways
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Protected crossing
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Visibility to and from the roadway
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Closeness to activity generators (comfortable walking distance to and from destinations)
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Level terrain
47 There are also a number of design features to consider when planning suburban bus stops as part of a Complete Streets policy: •
Bus stops should typically be located at the far side of the intersection to minimize intersection delay
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Provide well-marked pedestrian Bus stop prototype design for a busy roadway Image source: (Airport Corridor Transportation crossings at all transit stops using Association n.d.) striped crosswalk, pedestrian refuges and curb extensions, as appropriate
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Use a priority signal where appropriate
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Use appropriate standards for length of bus stops or bus stop on a curb extension
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Curb radii and curb extensions should be designed to avoid conflicts with buses and ensure safe turns for buses and other larger vehicles
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Reinforced bus-pads may preserve pavement quality on highervolume transit corridors, which can reduce the need for regular maintenance
Transit Improvement Treatments Other transit efficiency and prioritization improvements can be considered as part of a Complete Streets policy, several of which were mentioned above. The below matrix further illustrates and provides descriptions of different types of treatments that can be administered as part of a Complete Streets policy to improve the efficiency and speed of transit through a corridor.