Station features

Place types

When it opens in 2019, the Southwest light rail will connect diverse communities and place types along its route, including work places, mixed-use centers, public institutions and recreational and open spaces. Nine different place types along the route have been identified by groups like the Urban Land Institute. These place types help identify infrastructure opportunities around each station.

Place type: urban villages

Urban villages are traditional town centers or planned activity centers that can provide places to live, work, shop and play. Everyday services and amenities in urban villages are located within 1/4-mile radius, reducing reliance on cars and promoting walking, cycling and transit ridership. The compactness, higher densities and pedestrian-oriented nature of urban villages require that special attention be provided to the character and quality of streets and open spaces.

Built form and land use

Design transit infrastructure best suited for its environment
Position infrastructure to support new development
Fill gaps with new buildings that fit with the scale and character of adjacent development
Encourage new mixed-use development that can be vertically integrated into buildings with active uses located at street level

Public realm

Support pedestrians, cyclists and transit users with wider sidewalks, street furniture and weather protection
Create direct and safe routes to existing public open spaces and, where possible, develop new public open spaces

Mobility

Provide parking below-grade or in shared parking structures to ensure greater opportunities for active uses at grade
Introduce cycling lanes and related cycling facilities along key routes
Reduce dedicated turning lanes and reduce curb radii to assist pedestrians and cyclists
Maximize crossing points and establish a fine-grained street and block network that improves flow for all modes of transportation
Discourage park and ride facilities that detract from the character of the center

Place type: learning and institutional

Colleges, secondary schools and other academic institutions are important destinations along the corridor. While many of these places function to support students, they also serve as vital community hubs and places for social gatherings. Enhanced connections between these facilities and transit will encourage students and community residents to walk or ride to these institutions and will reduce congestion in these areas.

Built form and land use

Provide parking behind buildings away from transit stops, station areas and key connecting routes
Locate major campus activities such as student centers, libraries and eateries adjacent to transit stops/stations

Public realm

Focus streetscape, sidewalk and crossings improvements on existing routes leading to and from schools and institutions

Mobility

Build new and extend current access routes to create a well-defined pattern of walkways leading to and from schools and institutions
Encourage campus enhancements that improve connections with transit services
Incorporate enhanced cycling facilities and amenities including sheltered racks, fountains and free or low-cost pumps

Place types: health and wellness

Health and wellness areas are close to hospitals, medical/healing centers and other health care-related services including senior facilities and supportive services. The design and layout of these areas should provide an environment for patients, families and employees that is safe, convenient and accessible. To support and enhance the overall experience of these uses, design features around these spaces should reduce or eliminate barriers for pedestrians.

Built form and land use

Where feasible, locate transit stops/stations and employee shuttle drop-off/pick-up locations close to the primary health and wellness building entrances
Provide overhangs, awnings or other weather protection features along significant routes

Public realm

Focus on accessibility enhancements including curb cuts, crossing enhancements, benches and wider sidewalks leading to and from the station
Incorporate street plantings, street furniture and public arts with an emphasis on health and wellness to improve the pedestrian experience
Incorporate pedestrian-oriented lighting along key connecting routes to support evening patients and shift workers

Mobility

Target signage to highlight accessible routes to and from the station
Design station platforms to be accessible
Create direct routes with clear sight-lines and enhanced lighting for evening users
Where distances between transit and health and wellness facilities are far, consider providing shuttle services

Place type: green corridor, recreation and environment

Parks, open spaces and natural areas along the corridor form an important part of the public realm. These areas contribute to the identity and character of related neighborhoods and can act as gateways to features such as lakes, beaches and trails. A strong network of linked green spaces connected to transit can provide recreational uses for neighborhood residents and visitors, particularly if supported by nearby amenities.

Built form and land use

Focus on providing amenities for users including pedestrian trails, restrooms and changing rooms, water fountains and picnic facilities. Explore opportunities for pavilion retail, education and awareness, or classroom opportunities that can bring life to adjacent public spaces
Incorporate green building features that emphasize the relationship to nearby natural/open space features

Mobility

Extend existing trail networks connected to the station and establish clear open spaces surrounding the station
Provide enhanced cycling amenities such as short- and long-term bike facilities
Incorporate navigational tools into area trails and recreational amenities
Create clear pedestrian access routes that enhance visibility and safety

Place type: employment

Along with accommodating office and industrial activities, employment spaces provide opportunities for innovation. The inefficient organization of buildings and road networks in employment areas has often led to increased distances and travel time, reducing the attractiveness of public transportation to and from these areas. Improving travel options through pedestrian and cycling facilities will help transition away from these largely auto-dominated employment areas.

Built form and land use

Encourage a greater mix of uses along key routes to and from the station
Encourage shared amenities such as street-facing public squares and courtyards to link surrounding buildings
Ensure doors are easily accessible from area sidewalks and trails

Public realm

Ensure pedestrian links are continuous and extend directly to the main entrance of buildings
Locate outdoor lighting in areas that allows users to easily identify different routes and buildings

Mobility

Consolidate driveways and access points along key routes, and where feasible, establish shared access and parking to help further minimize driveways
Introduce mid-block connections between sites to support pedestrian with distances to walk
Provide enhanced cycling facilities and incorporate bike lockers to facilitate riding from the station to work
Ensure sidewalks are provided where possible on both sides of the streets and incorporate pedestrian supports

Place type: heritage, arts and culture

Cultural and heritage assets play an important role in communities. They represent the history, community values and aspirations they hope to carry into the future. These spaces can take a variety of forms, such gallery buildings, monuments or cultural landscapes, and they often provide significant cultural, social and economic benefits. Maximizing opportunities to better connect and promote these locations can benefit surrounding communities through improved tourism, enhanced civic pride, education and awareness, community participation and new opportunities for arts and cultural activities.

Built form and land use

Encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties and ensure all new developments are compatible with the look and feel of adjacent historic properties
Incorporate landscaping, buffering or other forms of mitigation measures where there may be potential impacts

Public realm

Where appropriate, incorporate special streetscape and landscape treatment to further celebrate heritage, art and culture zones
Integrate artwork or other features into the design of the station reflecting local heritage, arts and cultural themes

Mobility

Incorporate signage to inform passengers of important points of interest
Locate transit stops/stations near cultural heritage venues for accessibility and visibility of the sites
Use public art to connect places and destinations located away from the corridor

Place type: transit and trail feeders

Bus, transit and trail feeders are found at the intersection of transit lines. These locations provide access to many destinations and allow commuters to make transfers between different modes and systems. Given the high number of users that frequent these areas, provisions for travelers that enhance ease of movement, such as wider sidewalks and prominent wayfinding tools, are encouraged. High-quality facilities supporting walking, riding or cycling should also be integrated to further improve space functionality.

Built form and land use

Design station facilities and infrastructure to minimize transfer distances and create direct, comfortable connections between modes of transit
Ensure the design of station facilities does not inhibit new development near the station over time

Public realm

Develop new open spaces that can act as hubs for station users and facilitate transfer between modes of transit
Develop multi-functional spaces for activities such as markets or celebrations that benefit from a high level of accessibility
Ensure station areas are designed to provide adequate, comfortable and safe waiting environments for transit users

Mobility

Incorporate signage to direct travelers between different modes of transit
Extend path and trail networks to integrate with the station
Provide enhanced level of cycling amenity
Establish safe and efficient parking facilities that prioritize ride-sharing and car-sharing
Incorporate wider sidewalks where higher levels of transfers are anticipated to maintain a comfortable pedestrian experience

Place type: new transit business parks

New transit business parks have similar characteristics to employment areas but today are more suburban in nature. Their location on the periphery of cities, along with the dispersed layout of buildings and large areas of surface parking, has resulted in poor connections with transportation. As transit services expand there is an opportunity to integrate transit and new pedestrian and cycling networks. This will make it possible for residents to access area amenities and services without having to drive.

Built form and land use

Encourage infill and intensification at the station location to increase densities and provide amenities for area employees
Orient new buildings so they actively address streets and key connections
Locate active uses adjacent to transit stops or along key routes connecting to station areas

Public realm

Extend trail networks and mid-block connections to connect with the station and provide sidewalks
Identify a finer grained pattern of street and block and work to secure it over time
Incorporate signage directing users to transit and their destinations
Ensure a maintenance program exists to clear pedestrian and cycling routes during winter months
Explore the potential for a shuttle service to serve employees that work at a distance from the station

Mobility

Establish a positive pedestrian environment through the introduction of wider sidewalks, tree plantings and other amenities

Place type: neighborhoods

In addition to providing places to live, neighborhoods support a variety of local activities for everyday life including daycare centers, community centers, places of worship and smaller retailers. The introduction of new transit services close to some neighborhoods will enable residents to easily access amenities and services located further away. In areas where access to transit may encourage neighborhood growth, the focus should be on managing new development so it is sensitive to the character and scale of the existing neighborhood.

Built form and land use

Encourage infill that can be sensitively integrated into the neighborhood to support increases in neighborhood density
Where new development is proposed, ensure it is a similar scale and character to the existing neighborhood or that taller buildings transition and scale down to lower-rise buildings

Public realm

Incorporate pedestrian amenities around transit stops including shelters, seating areas and street lighting

Mobility

Provide safe and attractive pedestrian connections from places of residence to transit corridors and key community destinations
Ensure sidewalks are located on at least one side of the street and extend sidewalks in areas where there are existing gaps
Locate stops in areas with maximum access to residents
Explore the potential for new mid-block connections that reduce travel distance between neighborhood streets and transit