Investigating the transit station design typology for the ease of accessibility and for better contextual fit
Multimodal integration of urban mass transit systems has been recognized in the past decades as a successful means to reduce private car use and to improve public transport (PT) services (Luk & Olszewski, 2003). There are five key aspects of multi-modal integration – physical integration, service integration, ticketing integration, information, and institutional integration (Booz & Company, 2012). The design of the mass transit station itself plays an important role in physical integration. An efficient design of the station provides easy connections between modes by facilitating transit stops at a single location/close proximity to each other, removing any physical barriers and shortening distances between transit stops, reducing confusion and providing universal access for all user groups. In addition, the mass transit station should also be integrated with the adjoining-built form providing direct access wherever required and moving towards a ‘contextual fit’ rather than a standard template.
Indian cities are trying to move towards land use and transit integration. In the past decade, Indian cities have been planning mass rapid transit systems as a solution to mobility and connectivity issues. These systems are often planned as standalone projects and often ignore their relationship between the transit stations, adjoining built forms and physical accessibility levels of various commuters approaching the station with varying modes. As a result, these systems do not often succeed in attracting passengers to use transit systems and achieve adequate ridership.
Mass transit stations such as bus terminals, metro stations, railway stations, BRTS stations, etc. are often designed based on a standard template, lacking physical connectivity with other modes or with the adjoining built forms.
This research project will aim to understand the importance of embedding the transit station into the context it is placed in, by looking at examples of transit infrastructure in cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong. The thesis will look at the design of entrances, circulation cores, and the concourse level of the stations, and how it can be done in a way that responds to the surrounding context. The location, orientation, and accessibility of the adjoining buildings, both public and private, will also be studied in detail for the chosen stations, in order to analyze the site in detail and determine a more successful way in which surrounding buildings can facilitate the usage of the transit infrastructure. This DRP will explore the above issues while taking a detailed case study of Bengaluru – as an Indian example. Based on a detailed study, a broad design guide will be developed for mass transit stations.
