Findings from a Survey on Bus Stop Design

The bus stop is the first point of contact between the passenger and the bus service. The spacing, location, and design of bus stops significantly influence transit system performance and customer satisfaction. At present, relatively few transit agencies have comprehensive reference material available to assist in bus stop location and design. In recognition of the importance of bus stop location and design, the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) sponsored research to develop guidelines for locating and designing bus stops in various operating environments. These guidelines can assist transit agencies, local governments, and others (e.g., developers) in locating and designing bus stops that consider bus patrons\u27 convenience, safety, and access to sites, as well as safe and efficient transit operations and traffic flow. Mail-out surveys were conducted as part of the TCRP bus stop location and design guidelines project. The mail-out surveys, which were an initial task of the project, were used to determine current practices and areas of concern regarding bus stop design for transit agencies and states. Less than half of the responding transit agencies currently use guidelines or manuals, which indicates a need for the document being developed. Furthermore, almost every agency has moved a bus stop to improve traffic operations and more than half have redesigned a curbside stop to a bus bay or nub design. Transit agencies are typically responsible for establishing routes, stop spacing, stop location (near side, far side, or midblock), type of stop (curbside, bus bay, or nub), bus stop signs, and amenities (such as street furniture). Functions jointly shared by transit agencies and cities, counties, and states include selecting the length of the bus stop zone, selecting pavement design at bus stops, removal of parking for bus stops, bus stop relocation due to traffic, and bus priority measures. Selecting and maintaining traffic control devices is primarily a city function. The categories considered during the bus stop location and design process are (in descending order): bus operations, area type or land use, passenger safety, roadway features, and traffic conditions