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Pedestrians in a crosswalk near South Station in Boston.A woman in a wheelchair and her service dog traveling on a city sidewalk.Cars traveling around a rotary/roundabout.People sitting at an outdoor café on Newbury Street in Boston.A wheelchair user boarding a trolley in Portland, Oregon.A woman and her service dog at a crosswalk with detectable warnings in San Francisco.

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Improving Pedestrian and Bicyclist Access to Selected Transit Stations

Author(s):

Dantas, Lorenco

Organization:

Central Transportation Planning Staff

Publisher/Date:

Massachusetts Highway Department and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston, MA, 2005

Rating:

Useful

Abstract:

This study identifies relatively low-cost, quick-implementation measures that can significantly improve pedestrian and bicyclist access at six locations in the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system: Ayer Station (commuter rail); Boston College Branch (B Line) stops, Boston College Station to Chestnut Hill Avenue (Green Line); Cleveland Circle and Reservoir stops (Green Line, C and D); Forest Hills Station (Orange Line, commuter rail, and bus); Malden Center Station (Orange Line, commuter rail, and bus); and Mansfield Station (commuter rail and bus). Detailed in the report are improvements to both station property and surrounding areas that would eliminate hazards for bicyclists and pedestrians, increase ease of access to the station from surrounding neighborhoods for those users, or otherwise enhance the attractiveness of the station for access by foot or bicycle. The report also includes a summary that describes the types of issues encountered and provides general recommendations.

The field audit conducted for this study examined the physical, safety, and quality elements of walking and bicycling to a transit station. Based on such observations, the study set out to define improvements to both station property and surrounding areas that would eliminate hazards for bicyclists and pedestrians, increase the accessibility of the station from surrounding neighborhoods for those users, or otherwise enhance the attractiveness of the station for access by foot or bicycle. The recommendations focus on relatively low-cost, quick-implementation improvements such as:

  • Striping and painting crosswalks, bike lanes, and other pavement markings
  • Adding or fixing signs (including those related to traffic control, safety, and wayfinding)
  • Adjusting signal timing (including changes to pedestrian phases and signal activation)
  • Reducing bicycle/pedestrian - vehicle conflicts
  • Providing bicycle parking
  • Providing additional sidewalks
  • Adding or fixing street lighting
  • Landscaping and vegetarian removal

Number of Pages:

87

Link:

Improving Pedestrian and Bicyclist Access to Selected Transit Stations (PDF) (http://ctps.org/bostonmpo/resources/transitaccess/TA-fullreport.pdf)

Table of Contents?

Yes

Index?

No

Illustrations?

Yes

Material Type:

Report

Key Document?

No

Categories:

Regional research, recommendations; Planning

Keywords:

Massachusetts - State, Pedestrian and Bicycle Design

Strengths:

  • Selected study locations are well researched
  • Identified problems are accompanied with recommendations
  • Recommendations are detailed
  • Photographs and maps help visualize the issues
  • The document is well presented and the writing is accessible to common readers.

Weaknesses:

  • Not well detailed on the standards that should be used for design of facilities that best serve pedestrians
  • Emphasis on federal standards, and not on local and regional best practice guidelines
  • No specific focus on issues specific to persons with disabilities
  • There is no discussion about funding, responsible organizations, coordination, implementation, maintenance, schedule, or evaluation

Record Last Updated:

July 2006

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