Smart Urban Transport

Abstract

Dick Fleming
Principal Public Transport PPK Environment & Infrastructure – Sydney, Australia bio

The Busway Station – Front Door to the Network - Session 4

Ask someone in one of our low density, sprawling suburbs for their attitude to the bus service and likely as not you will hear something like; "inadequate unreliable and second class." This negative attitude to service quality, passenger comfort and convenience is simply confirmed when it comes to the ubiquitous local bus stop, often simply a sign "nailed to a tree". If bus based mass transit systems are to be accepted, as a viable public transport alternative then the "stop" must be transformed into the focal point of the system - the easily recognisable and accessible front door to the network. As bus based systems evolve in Australia it is apparent that different approaches are being adopted in the design of stations. The factors that have guided the development of station designs in the Sydney Transitway network will be explored and comparisons drawn with systems elsewhere. Planning, design and operational principles for effective stations will also be addressed, including urban design considerations, the perennial issue of form versus function, developing effective interchanges and the main ingredients of a passenger focused station.