Metro Transfers Design Guide

Transfers Design Guide
Improving Connections for a Seamless Trip
MARCH 2018
March 2018
Prepared by
STV, Incorporated
Cityworks Design
Hunt Design
Table of
Contents
1
Overview ....................................................1
Provides summary of Design Guide goals and
purpose, and discussion of transfers points and
why they are important within the greater context
of Metro’s system expansion and first/last mile
improvements.
2
Background ..............................................15
Provides overview of data analysis, sites visits,
best practices, and summary of interviews with
Metro staff, stakeholders, technical advisory
groups, and transit customers conducted to
inform recommendations.
3
Three Steps
to Improve Transfers ............................. 27
Introduces three steps to design good transfer
points and key considerations for configuring
transfer spaces (e.g. sidewalks, stations).
i METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

4
Application Strategies ........................... 51
Outlines three major strategies to implement
the principles and design considerations in this
Guide.
5
Design Toolbox ...................................... 57
Provides a process-oriented Design Checklist
to use when planning transfer improvements, a
flexible Design Toolbox with key considerations
for improvements, as well as targeted strategies
to address complex transfer zones (e.g. narrow
sidewalks and Terminus Stations).
Appendix
Data and supporting documents.
MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE ii

1 Overview
Most transit riders transfer at least once to
complete their journey. Making a transfer
involves combining two or more legs (i.e. taking
two buses, or a bus and train) to complete
one’s trip.
Making transfers safe, easy and

comfortable is important to creating a
seamless journey.
Why Are
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (Metro) serves an
Transfers
average of 1.3 million riders on buses and
trains each day. Nearly two-thirds of Metro
Important?
customers transfer once or more during their
trip. When transfers between Metro and other
transit operators are included, that number
quickly increases. Providing safe and convenient
transfers is critical to serving existing customers
and growing Metro’s ridership.
Metro’s existing design standards for transit

stations and bus stops do not fully address
connectivity between bus, rail, and bus rapid
transit (BRT) stops and stations. Without proper
guidance and multi-jurisdictional coordination,
transfers can be confusing, inefficient, and
uncomfortable for riders.
3 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

Overview
This Transfers Design Guide builds upon Metro’s

First/Last Mile (FLM) Strategic Plan (2014) and
64%
recently funded FLM improvement efforts (2016)
to improve access to transit and create more
seamless trips for customers from start to finish.
of Metro riders
With changing mobility patterns and
demographics, increased development
in the region, and Metro’s ambitious
TRANSFER
expansion plans under Measure M,
at least
there is an opportunity to update
Metro’s goals, standards, and
ONCE
practices to prioritize connectivity and during
the customer experience for future their trip
corridor planning, station design, and
infrastructure improvements.
This Guide intends to elevate the transfer

experience by providing a user-friendly Design
Checklist and flexible Design Toolbox that can be
used to assess and develop improvements for a
range of transit conditions across Los Angeles
(LA) County.
Source:
First/Last Mile Strategic Plan (2014)
MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 4

Goals of This Guide
This Metro Transfers Design Guide (Guide) aims to:
Metro
• Improve connectivity between transit lines in LA County
for more direct and efficient trips and transfers.
• Enhance the customer experience by providing design
measures to improve safety, security, accessibility,
and comfort with relation to how people move, make
Transit decisions, wait for, and/or board transit.
Cities &
Providers & • Build upon Metro’s First/Last Mile Strategic Plan
Stakeholders (2014) and Policy (2016) to improve the complete
Operators journey for customers from start to finish, including any
transfers that occur along the way.
• Encourage inter- and intra-agency coordination
to address the roles and responsibilities of the
many stakeholders involved in the planning, design,
operations, and maintenance of transfer zones.
• Plan for the future by offering a Design Checklist and
Design Toolbox to improve existing, and plan for new,
transfer stops and stations.
• Support local and regional growth by making the
Metro transit system easier to use, and a reliable choice
for traveling within LA County.

Overview
Who Should Use This Guide? What Do We Mean by a Transfer?

This Guide is intended to serve as a resource for a Making a transfer requires a rider to move between
variety of audiences, including: two transit vehicles. This movement could involve
transferring between buses, trains, streetcars, shuttles,
Metro Staff and emerging transit options (i.e. on-demand ride-
To aid the planning, design, construction, operations, sharing services like Uber, Lyft, microtransit). Most
and maintenance of transit stations, stops, and transfers occur within the public right-of-way (e.g. streets
improvements, and to inform strategic planning efforts. and sidewalk), which Metro does not control, or a
station (property owned or leased by a transit operator).
Local Transit Operators Thus, coordination between agencies is critical to
To provide guidance on improvements to transit making improvements.
facilities, information, and scheduling. And to
recommend how to improve connectivity between routes Making a transfer includes three key things:
and to consider the customer experience when making
decisions. • Moving from one connection to the next,
• Making decisions on how to navigate and use the
Local Municipalities
transit system, and
To inform capital projects within the public right-of-way
and to help prioritize public benefits considered as part • Waiting for one’s next bus or train.
of development projects near transit.
Developers and/Property Owners

To inform the design and maintenance of public spaces
and street furniture adjacent to transit. Seamless Trip
Metro Customers
To understand design best practices that Metro is using First Mile
and developing to improve the transit system. Plan your route and
begin trip to transit stop
18
3
or station
93
500’
Begin Transit Trip
Enter sidewalk
stop/station
& wait to board
Transfer
Make decisions to
move to next stop or
station, & wait to board
Last Mile
Leave sidewalk
stop/station & walk,
ride, or scoot to
final destination

What is the Transfer Zone
The transfer zone spans the area from where a
rider gets off one bus or train and moves to board
the next. Transfer zones can vary in size. To keep
recommendations for improvements focused, this Guide
defines the transfer zone as an approximate 500-foot
diameter around a cluster of connecting sidewalk stops
and/or rail or BRT Stations, typically adjacent to an
intersection.
+
– 500 feet +
– 500 feet
Transfer Zone
Private Property Public ROW Public ROW Metro Property
Private
Development Sidewalk Stop
» Owned privately » Located on public right-of-way (ROW) at street level
» Coordination » Owned by local jurisdictions
needed with » Supports buses, streetcars, shuttles
local jurisdiction – Sidewalk stops can have associated bike share, rideshare, taxi, vanpool
for permitting » Coordination needed with local jurisdiction departments:
and other – Planning
private entities – Transportation
– Bus Operations
– Public Works/Engineering
– Cultural Affairs
– Facilities & Maintenance
– Legal (Advertising Contractors for Transit Shelters)
– Business Relations (Local BID)

Overview
Who Owns the Transfer Zone?

The transfer zone includes many stakeholders, who are
responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining
transit infrastructure, which can vary greatly in size
and scale from bus shelters to multi-level stations. Key
“owners” of the transfer zone include:
• Metro and other local transit operators

• Local jurisdictions who own public streets and
sidewalks
• Adjacent property owners
• Other parties be who may be responsible for
maintenance (e.g. Business Improvement Districts,
neighborhood groups, or advertising contractors for bus
shelters).
Within each entity, there may be multiple departments
and/or disciplines that need to be involved (see graphic
below). Hence, coordination is critical.
Station
» Located at, below, or above street level along public right-of-way or private property
» Owned or leased by transit operator
» Supports buses, bus-rapid transit (BRT), rail transit, Metrolink, Amtrak, High-Speed-Rail
» Coordination needed with multiple departments, often includes:
– Planning
– Program Management
– Operations (Rail and Bus)
– Facilities & Maintenance
– Active Transportation
– Art & Design
– Communications
– Joint Development
– Safety & Security

What Makes a Guiding Principles
Good Transfer Zone? Metro seeks to improve transfers and create a seamless
experience for customers traveling across a multi-
jurisdictional region. The following principles frame the
idea of a “good transfer” throughout the document.
These principles can be used as a quick checklist when
evaluating transfer improvements.
Safety and Security Above all, the transit journey should

be safe and feel secure for all riders.
Efficiency relates to the rider’s path between

connections (i.e. proximity between stops and directness
of path).
Accessibility addresses an unobstructed path and

boarding area for customers of all abilities and the
variety of ways in which they travel (e.g. alone or with a
bike, wheelchair, stroller, etc).
Clarity relates to clear information and wayfinding,

presented in accessible formats to navigate the transit
network.
Comfort addresses the quality of the overall transit

environment (e.g. transit amenities, artwork, cleanliness,
maintenance) and experience.
Consistency relates to reliable elements at each stop or

station that help create a comfortable journey.
Importance of Safety & Security

Metro has increased its security presence on buses
and trains to address customer concerns. Recent
surveys reported that 21% of past Metro riders stopped
taking transit because they felt unsafe1. The City of Los
Angeles also has embarked on safety measures with an
ambitious program (Vision Zero) to address pedestrian
safety. In 2016, traffic deaths increased by almost 43%
in the City of Los Angeles. Pedestrians make up nearly
half of these fatalities, even though they are involved
in only 14% of the total number of collisions2. These
efforts, along with the recommendations in this Guide,
will help improve safety and security for customers.
1 Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2008-2015 Quality

of Life Report, http://media.metro.net/docs/report_qualityoflife.pdf (May
31, 2016).
2 Laura J. Nelson and Dakota Smith, The number of pedestrians, cyclists
and drivers killed in L.A. traffic rose sharply in 2016, http://www.latimes.
com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-2016-traffic-deaths-20170403-story.html (April
3, 2017).

Overview
Maintenance and Operations

Maintaining the transfer zone is essential to assuring
a good customer experience. A clean and well-
maintained waiting environment can improve the
customer’s sense of comfort and security when taking
transit. Although this Guide focuses on the design and
needed coordination for good transfer experiences, and
less on transit vehicle or schedule operations, improved
operations is strongly tied to reliability and convenience
of transfers. Metro’s Transit Service Policy (2016) offers
guidance for improving service.
Safety Paths for transferring should be safe, especially where Security Riders said they are more comfortable when they
riders are near vehicular traffic (Gold Line Soto Station, East LA) have a sense of safety and security (Red/Purple Line, LA)
Design Design of paths and boarding areas should create a Maintenance Maintenance of station plazas and bus stop
consistent rider experience (Orange Line Pierce College Station, waiting areas is critical for upholding a good transfer experience
San Fernando Valley) (Hollywood and Vine Station, LA)

Challenges for Improving Metro and the other local transit operators and
jurisdictions face several challenges to improve
Transfer Zones the design and function of transfer zones. Many
comments from focus groups and stakeholders during
interviews pointed to the challenges listed below. The
recommendations in this Guide acknowledge these
issues and seek to overcome them, where possible,
through design strategies and policies.
Expansive & Diverse Transit Environment. Metro’s bus

and rail service spans over 1,400 square miles. Ridership
and the built environment vary greatly, from low-density
neighborhoods with less than a dozen riders a day, to
bus stops in major urban centers where close to 100,000
riders move through the 7th/Metro Center station in
Downtown LA. Planning for this vast and diverse area is
challenging and requires flexible design standards that
can be adapted to fit unique site conditions.
Jurisdictional Coordination. Multiple parties “own” and

maintain the transit infrastructure and amenities in the
transfer zone. Making improvements requires the lead
agency to communicate plans and goals within its own
departments, as well as to departments of all involved
jurisdictions and transit operators. Dozens of transit
Limited Space Limited sidewalk space along Wilshire, a major Sidewalk Clutter Elements can crowd boarding zone along
transit hub and transfer area (Westwood, LA) narrow sidewalk (Los Feliz, LA)

Overview
operators provide services within LA County and each

have their own standards and protocols. The lead agency
is tasked with navigating through different approval
processes, coordinating priorities, and compiling
various funding sources.
Limited Space. Many transfers occur along city

sidewalks. In many parts of LA County, sidewalks are
narrow and space for transit improvements is limited.
Inaccessible Transit Environment. Narrow pathways,

lack of curb ramps, and constrained boarding spaces are
challenges for Metro and other local transit operators
to provide reliable, accessible transit service to all
customers. Upgrading the public realm to meet current
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards should
be prioritized across LA County.
Maintenance. Transit infrastructure must stand up

to heavy wear and tear. Maintaining equipment and
amenities that are not designed for durability can
be huge task. Similarly, keeping up with changing
technology is not easy. Technology may be obsolete
soon after installation. Dirty and/or vandalized bus
stops and stations can detract customers from taking
transit altogether, which is a barrier to increasing transit
ridership in LA County.
Limited Resources. Obtaining money for public

improvements is often a challenge and the competition
for public funds and staff allocation is stiff. Transit
planners must be strategic in identifying partnerships to
pool money or apply for grants to make improvements.

When Should Transfer Making Improvements
Improvements be Made? The recommendations in this Guide are organized by
transfer type (e.g. sidewalk stop or station) to address
While transfer improvements can be implemented at any
the different and common challenges for each facility.
time, they will most commonly be done:
Sidewalk stops are owned by local jurisdictions and
often are constrained with limited space to expand.
• When introducing a new transit service (e.g. new bus
Stations, owned by Metro or other transit operators, are
route, rail extension)
larger facilities with more equipment, amenities, and
• When relocating a sidewalk stop or station vertical circulation elements (e.g. stairs, elevators) to
• When investing in streetscape improvements design and configure to meet customer and operational
needs.
• When new development occurs and transit
improvements can be incorporated Recommendations to improve these two transfer types
• As part of Metro’s “State of Good Repair” efforts focus on three key transfer behaviors: decision-making,
moving, and waiting to board.
To inform transfer improvements, this Guide offers:

Gathering Information
A Process-Oriented Design Checklist to
To develop the recommendations in this Guide, Metro: guide the planning and design process
for new stops, stations, and improved
• Held focus groups with Metro customers transfer zones. See pages 59 – 63.
• Reviewed current standards
Flexible Design Toolbox, which is
• Studied best practices from around the world adaptable to respond to a variety of
• Surveyed a variety of transit facilities around LA County site conditions across LA County. The
• Analyzed ridership and safety data Toolbox provides design considerations
for the improvement type, location, and
• Gathered input from local jurisdictions, local transit level of difficulty to install. This section
operators, and other stakeholder/advisory groups also provides guidance on complex
See page 25 for a summary of the feedback received. transfer sites, such as narrow sidewalks
and Terminus Stations. See pages
65 – 96.

Overview
Application Strategies
In addition to informing the planning and design of
transfer stops and stations, this Guide can serve as
a tool for policy discussions on transit planning and
connectivity.
Applications Strategies (see pages 51 – 56) provides a

road map with strategies to apply the guiding principles
and design considerations in this Guide to:
1. Inform current and future Metro projects to prioritize

the customer experience for more seamless transfers.
2. Guide discussions and decision-making for major
strategic planning efforts (e.g. Metro Strategic Plan, Making Decisions Riders using maps at a sidewalk stop
Long Range Plan, and NextGen Bus Study) to prioritize to make decisions on how to use the transit system
(Big Blue Bus, Santa Monica)
connectivity across the LA County transit network.
3. Share transfer improvement ideas with local
jurisdictions and transit operators to improve transfer
zones and the customer experience.
Waiting to Board Riders at a light rail Station waiting to

board their next transit vehicle (Expo Line, Santa Monica)
Moving Riders moving between two Stations (Red/Orange

Line, North Hollywood)

2 Background
What Did We Learn
from the Literature Review?
Within the Region
There is a lack of multi-jurisdictional or County-
wide guidance on how to design stops/stations for
transferring customers. While there is overwhelming
support for transit investment across LA County evident
with passage of Measure M (2016) and Measure R
(2008) there are no standards or guidelines to address
Understanding
What Works
how agencies and local jurisdictions within LA County
should work together to create an effective transfer
environment.
& What Doesn’t Within Metro

The literature review revealed that Metro’s guiding
documents, such as the Metro Rail Design Criteria
Prior to developing recommendations, The Transfer (MRDC) and the Metro Transit Service Policy (2015)
Design Guide Team (the Team), composed of Metro do not provide sufficient design guidance on
staff and consultants, engaged in six background tasks connectivity between modes, nor identify which
to understand the current physical environment and departments must come together to effectively address
customer experience, and how to approach designing transfer issues.
transfers. Tasks included:
On a positive note, Metro is working on several
• Literature review efforts that will improve the transfer experience and
• Best practices research environment. Metro is beginning a strategic plan to
restructure the bus network to better serve customers,
• Ridership data analysis providing a good opportunity to consider improvements
• Collisions data analysis at transfer points. In 2016, Metro’s Board passed a
motion to complete First/Last Mile walk audits for more
• Site visits
than 250 bus and rail stations illustrating the agency’s
• Interviews with Metro/agency staff and customers & commitment to improve movement to/from sidewalk
briefing advisory groups stops and stations.
Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation encourages

private-sector companies to submit unsolicited
proposals that may jump-start initiatives to improve the
transfer experience. The unsolicited proposal process
provides opportunities for creative solutions to integrate
advances in technology that may improve a range of
transfer-related issues (e.g. safety, maintenance, clarity
of information).

Interviews
Ridership Collisions with Metro/
Literature Best agency staff,
Data Data Site Visits
Review Practices customers &
Analysis Analysis advisory groups
MARCH 2018

Background
What Did We Learn

from Best Practices?
The Team learned a lot from studying best practices
from other transit systems. The Team discovered good
examples from San Francisco, Dallas, Denver, Seattle,
Portland, Washington D.C., and the US nation-wide. In
addition, two international documents from Ontario
(Canada) and London (UK) were reviewed.
In particular, the Transport for London Interchange Best

Practice Guidelines (2009) provided valuable insight
about transfers with a focus on the user experience.
This document focused on the customer experience and
identified the types of spaces a transferring customer
must travel through (decision spaces, movement
spaces, and opportunity spaces). The document
provided recommendations on how to improve each
space for efficiency, understanding and quality.
Best Practices The Transport for London Interchange Best Practices Guidelines highlighted station tools and clearly illustrated how
they should be laid out

0 2 4 8
Miles N
Ranking of Most Dangerous Intersections in California
Out of 444 total intersections
1 – 100 301 – 400 Metro BRT/Rail Line (Existing)
101 – 200 400+ Metro Bus Stop (Existing)

201 – 300
Prioritize Improvements Lead agencies should prioritize transfer improvements at sidewalk stops and stations with a
high number of collisions. Source: Estey & Bomberger, LLP (2016)

Background
What Did We Learn from What Did We Learn

Collision Data? from Ridership Data?
In California, 67 of the 450 most dangerous As mentioned before, almost two-thirds (64%) of Metro
intersections are within 500 feet of Metro’s sidewalk customers transfer as part of their trip. Prioritizing
“high ridership” stops/stations. It is imperative that sidewalk stops/stations with high ridership will
agencies prioritize transfer improvements at these improve the transfer experience for a majority of
locations. A 2016 collision study3 by California Highway Metro’s customers. The Team analyzed ridership data
Patrol analyzed pedestrian-involved crashes, injuries, and found that of more than 15,000 Metro sidewalk
and fatalities at intersections across California. All 67 of stops and stations, 8% have high ridership (500 or more
these intersections had at least 25 crashes/injuries, with total boardings and alightments per day), accounting
the most dangerous having 65 crashes/injuries. Of the for 61% of Metro’s daily boardings. Virtually all of
67 intersections, 84% were intersections with only bus these high ridership sidewalk stops/stations supported
stops, and the remaining 16% had bus stops and were transfers to at least one other transit line.
within a quarter-mile of a rail station. See the Appendix for See the Appendix for a map of these locations.
a list and map of most dangerous intersections.
With the exception of areas in Downtown Los Angeles,
Metro rail stations have a higher number of daily
boardings and alightings than bus stops. Some Metro bus
stops see thousands of boardings and alightings per day
while Metro’s busiest rail station, 7th Street/Metro Center,
sees nearly 100,000 riders each day.
3 Estey & Bomberger, LLP. 2015. Accessed November 11, 2016. Most
Dangerous Intersections in California [New Study], available at http://
www.ebtrialattorneys.com/dangerous-intersections-california/.

4
19
1 6
14
13 15 18
12 2 3 7
17
8
16
10
11
Site Visit Locations Over 20 different sites around LA County were reviewed to help understand the range of
transfer issues and to test preliminary evaluation criteria for this Guide. The locations represent a diversity of
transit environments found across LA County.
1. Sepulveda / Ventura (bus-to-bus) 12. Culver City Station (bus-to-rail)

2. Vermont Ave / Pico Blvd (bus-to-bus) 13. Wilshire / Western Station (bus-to-rail)
3. 7th Street / Broadway (bus-to-bus) 14. Hollywood / Vine Station (bus-to-rail)
4. Chatsworth Station (BRT-to-rail) 15. 7th St / Metro Center Station (rail-to-rail)
5. Van Nuys Station (bus-to-BRT) 16. Willowbrook Station (bus-to-rail)
6. Del Mar Station (bus-to-rail) 17. Pico Station (bus-to-rail)
7. Soto Station (bus-to-rail) 18. El Monte Station (bus-to-bus)
8. Expo / Crenshaw Station (bus-to-rail) 19. North County (bus & rail facilities in Lancaster,
9. Downtown Long Beach Station (bus-to-rail) Palmdale, McBean Regional Transit Center, and
10. Crenshaw Station (bus-to-rail) Santa Clarita)
11. Artesia Station (bus-to-rail)

Background
What Did We Learn from

Site Visits?
Over 20 site visits were done to observe several criteria:
• Proximity between stops and walking distance.
• Pathway (i.e. how direct, efficient, clear).
• Quality of transit information and wayfinding signage.
• Amenities (shade, seating, etc).
• Comfort of environment (cleanliness, “State of Good
Repair”).
• Amenities for other transit connection (bike, parking,
rideshare).
See the Appendix for the Site Survey Documentation.
Based on the above criteria, the site visits allowed the

Team to glean several lessons for improving the transfer
zone, namely the following:
1. Transfer improvements were only made within

Metro-owned property, although the transfer zone
often included paths beyond Metro’s property
boundaries. Metro’s design criteria does not address
anything beyond its property.
2. The location and number of amenities varied greatly,
providing a lack of consistency for customers. Tools
such as closed circuit television (CCTV), ADA access,
bike facilities, parking, and elevators are present, but
could be placed in more convenient locations to be
more efficient for customers.
3. Sidewalk stops and stations are sometimes located
far from each other and not within a visible distance.
This causes customers to become confused when
looking for their next boarding area.
4. Effective wayfinding is lacking or hidden at many
Stations. When signs and/or cues for visually impaired
are not present and conveniently located, customers are
missing the information they need to find their path and
boarding area.

What Did We Hear from
Interviews and Advisory Groups?
Between March 2016 and October 2016, the Team
discussed existing barriers and opportunities for transfer
improvements with focus groups (English and Spanish
speaking Metro customers). The Team also met with
Metro staff, the Metro Technical Advisory Committee
and subcommittees, the Metro Accessibility Advisory
Committee, and staff from local transit operators and
jurisdictions to represent those who design, plan,
operate, and/or maintain transit service. Each group was
asked to evaluate and suggest improvements for the
efficiency, clarity, access and quality. The table on page 25
summarizes the main points from these interviews and
Outreach Focus group participants were shown photos of meetings, organized by the three transfer components
various transfer situations and discussed their expectations for a (making decisions, moving, and waiting to board).
good transit experience
The key suggestions centered on the following themes:
1. Clarity of Transit Information and Navigation

between transfer points including clear signage, customer
service, and real-time information.
2. Comfort of Transit Spaces & Amenities including
lighting, cleanliness, and safety.
3. Multi-Modal Access including access by bike, car, and
for people with disabilities.
4. Reliable Service including on-time performance, wait
time, and transfer fare cost.
Refer to the Appendix for the full Focus Group Report.

Background
My perfect transfer experience...
ctly
ng exa
“ Knowi ay to go
w
which ing off my
gett
when rain
t ”
“ Little wait nstimfere s,

between tra
and room for my
“ Buses are on time bike on the front of
and I don’t have to
wait any longer than
the bus
”
10 minutes
to transfer
”
– Quotes from focus group interviews

Summary of Interview and Meeting Comments by Participant Group and Topic
Participant Making Decisions Moving Waiting to Board Other

• onsolidate and streamline • Work with cities to ensure • nsure bus shelters are • o locate retail and
signage. pedestrian path to bus stops placed at high ridership convenience stores near
• Provide real time info online and boarding areas are ADA stops/station. stops/stations.
• Provide info in multiple accessible. • Provide more consistent • aintenance and cleaning
Metro Staff • nsure bicycle facilities are amenities (e.g. lighting, around bus stops is needed.
formats (e.g. pictograms,
audio cues, tactile). well-located and do not block seating, shade). • oordinate with cities on
• Provide customer service pedestrians or buses. • Provide public restrooms at bus shelter/advertising
kiosks with staff. major transfer points. agreements.
• Provide real time info • eed clear path of travel and • nsure electrical outlets are • eed greater consistency
• ncrease use of audio boarding area. working to charge mobility and standardization of transit
announcements. • nsure D path is short devices. facilities and wayfinding
Accessibility Advisory • Provide directional signage and direct. • eating is lacking elements (e.g. tactile, audio)
Committee between rail and bus stops. • mprove reliability and • estrooms are lacking across County.
• nsure signage is legible cleanliness of elevators. • uality of bus stops and
(bright sun and dark night). • mprove crossings curb amenities vary greatly.
ramps, signal timing).
• Provide real time info • Widen sidewalks at transit • Prioriti e safety and security • mprove coordination
• hare transit data between stops/stations. when making improvements. between agencies.
transit operators. • Provide pedestrian recall • Prioriti e maintenance of • dentify universal transit
• Provide more digital buttons and scrambles at sidewalks in station areas. furniture for providers.
Metro Technical messaging signs for busy intersections. • nsure stops and stations are • Provide incentives for
Advisory Committees emergencies or updates. • ncrease enforcement well-lit and clean. developers to make
and Subcommittees • reate best practices for vehicles blocking bus stops. • Provide shade at bus trees improvements.
signage and transit info across • ntegrate omplete treets and shelter). • nclude maintenance in
providers. policies to avoid conflicts • taff stations customer advertising contracts.
between modes. service ambassadors. • dd more parking and drop
off zones at stations.
• Provide real time info • larify hierarchy of pick up • ddress acoustic issues at rail • ncrease enforcement of bus
• Develop best practices drop-off curb space. stations with sound barriers. stops.
on signage for multiple • dd more parking and • etrofit stations with fare • us layover space needed at
operators. pick-up/drop-off space. gates to improve security. rail stations.
• reate universal system to • mprove timing of bus to bus • Prioriti e Wi i on vehicles, • nsure document addresses
Local Jurisdictions, number bus stops for multiple transfers for safety. rather than at stops. diverse conditions.
Municipal Transit operators. • mplement pedestrian • nsure landscaping provides • unding is needed for these
Operators, • Pursue open data between recall strategies (e.g. signal shade and does not block improvements.
Community operators and equipment. prioritization, scrambles). access or sight lines. • ost estimates for
Organizations • hare data to prioriti e vision • ncrease enforcement • nsure bus shelter design improvements are helpful.
zero projects. vehicles blocking bus stops. provides shade.
• onsider passenger peer • ffer mobile fares to speed • se concrete lanes and bus
education on transfer rules/ up ticketing/boarding. pads to reduce road repairs.
fares. • Design stations for short • Provide bus hubs where
transfer path. multiple operators connect.
• Provide real time info and • Provide more assistance to • eep stations clean and • ncrease headways
updates. the disabled and elderly. maintained. • pand fare options
• mprove audio systems on • Provide additional parking • Provide more security staff • mplement consistent
buses and trains. and bicycle facilities. • Design stations with more fares and transfer policies
Metro Riders • Place maps of surrounding open space (e.g. courtyards, countywide.
(Focus Groups) areas at bus stops. trees, shade, benches).
• mprove signage signs can • Provide public restrooms
be small, hard to see). • Provide bus shelters, more
seating at stations, and WiFi.

Background
Overall Lessons Learned

Based on review of literature, best practices, data, site
visits, and interviews, the main takeaways were:
1. Prioritize highest ridership sidewalk stops/stations

and those with high collision statistics when making
transfer improvements.
2. Provide policy and design guidance.
3. Provide consistent information and amenities
for customers.
4. Minimize the distance between transfer points
to improve customer safety and experience.
5. Improve sense of security at stations and stops with
Consistent Amenities Needed Transit customers wait for bus
improved lighting, customer service and/or security
next to cafe to find shade (Sunset Blvd, LA)
staff presence, and well-maintained transit environment.
6. Greater coordination between transit operators,
cities, and local organizations offers opportunities to
maximize resources for transfer improvements and
maintenance.
Opportunities to Inform
Since the passage of Measure M (2016), Metro has
engaged in a handful of strategic planning efforts to
guide and leverage upcoming transit investments. The
recommendations in this report have the opportunity
to guide critical discussions to set priorities for the
following efforts:
1. Long Range Transportation Plan sets framework for

planning and funding of 40 years of infrastructure.
Inform Standards Metro Design standards can be updated to
2. Metro Strategic Plan sets goals and policies for the inform many new stations as part of Measure M
Agency for the next ten years. (Crenshaw/LAX Line, LA)
3. NextGen Bus Study will identify strategies to

re-envision bus service in LA County to better serve
customers and connect to the expanding rail and
BRT system.

3 Three Steps to
Improve Transfers
Step 1
What’s My Timeline?
The greater the infrastructure investment, the earlier
planning must begin. The process for designing a
successful multimodal transfer environment cannot
be done overnight. It requires early and on-going
coordination between you (the planning/design lead),
Follow local transit operators, and the local jurisdiction, with
Three Steps
enough time to accommodate changes that may arise
due to other forces that affect the transfer environment
(adjacent development projects, code changes,
infrastructure modifications).
to improve the customer’s transfer
There are essentially two types of transfer points,
experience: Sidewalk Stops and Stations, and each has its own
planning and design steps. The timeline and process
will vary depending on if you are designing a Stop along
public sidewalk, or planning a more comprehensive
Station, mainly because of where the transfer activity
occurs and how much space and infrastructure are
required to create a good transfer environment. The
recommendations that follow apply to new Stops and
Stations, as well as upgrades and improvements to
existing facilities.
N
PL A
What’s my Where
1 Timeline? 2 are Customers 3 How Do I Design
a Good Transfer
Transferring To/ Experience?
From?

Three Steps to Improve Transfers
Sidewalk Stops
Sidewalk Stops are transfer points typically located
along the street on public sidewalk in space controlled
by the local jurisdiction. In some cases the Sidewalk
Stop may be set back onto private property and
integrated into the development. In most cases
a Sidewalk Stop requires planning at least a year
in advance of construction, but can require more
depending on the scope of the endeavor. Sidewalk
Stops serve buses, shuttles, rideshare, microtransit
and/or streetcars with curbside boarding. Your timeline
should accommodate the following activities:
1. Plan. Identify the scope of the transfer experience at

the Sidewalk Stop, who needs to be involved, and what
future plans should be considered when designing it.
Establish your overall time-frame. Public ROW Wider sidewalks can accommodate larger
furniture and more tools, as well as provide more comfortable
2. Walk Audit. Get out in the field and observe how paths and waiting spaces for transferring customers
the existing Sidewalk Stop is being used, document (Portland, OR)
transfer behavior, and start to identify which tools
might be appropriate. Ideally, the planning/design lead,
and a representative from the transit agency and local
jurisdiction can conduct the walk audit together. The
Metro First/Last Mile Audit is a helpful walk audit tool.
3. Design. Confirm which tools will enhance and fit

at the Sidewalk Stop, making sure to prioritize the
pedestrian experience when determining the Sidewalk
Stop design and identify potential conflicts between
modes (e.g. does bus loading conflict with bike parking
access?) to resolve. Summarize relevant agency
standards and codes that must be addressed. Try to
anticipate field conditions and resolve site specific
issues (e.g. underground utilities) in this phase. See
Section 5: Design Toolbox for and Design Checklist and
more information on design tools.
4. Get Approvals. Seek early review and approvals,

then finalize your design documents with the local
jurisdiction and transit agency.
5. Construct. Implement your transfer improvements.

You may need to address site-specific issues that arise
during implementation. Consider construction impacts
and minimize disruption to the transfer experience with Physical Constraints Customers and passing pedestrians
adequate notification and signage while construction share the limited sidewalk space, which can be narrow
(Westwood, LA)
is underway.

Stations
Stations are transfer points typically located on
dedicated property controlled by a transit agency or
used by a transit operator via shared agreement with a
private property owner. Stations are usually designed as
part of a transit corridor project and can require planning
up to 10 years in advance before construction depending
on their level of complexity, parties involved and
environmental clearance requirements. The improvement
of the transfer experience should be considered through
the entire planning and design process of building new or
improving existing Stations, which typically involves the
following phases:
Physical Constraints Aerial Station platforms have unique
constraints that require standards for locating transit amenities
1. Feasibility Study. This first level of study evaluates
(Expo Line Expo/La Cienega Station, LA)
potential transit routes for engineering and general
viability. Connectivity between transit lines and easy
access to the Station should be a screening criteria for
alignment selection.
2. Alternative Analysis/Major Investment Study. This

next level of study considers alternative routes to result
in at a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). During an
Alternatives Analysis or Major Investment Study, the
planning team will conceptually identify Station locations
that serve the highest volume of riders and facilitate
transfers between transit lines. Providing a convenient
transfer for customers should be a key criteria for
selecting and siting Station locations. This study should
identify opportunities, constraints, and strategies to
accommodate convenient transfers between new and
existing lines. Selecting and siting Station locations
should be highly tied to the customer’s transfer
experience.
3. Preliminary Engineering and Environmental

Clearance. This phase analyzes environmental impacts
and typically takes Station plans to a 30% level of
design. The Station’s location, configuration, access
points, adjacency to Sidewalk Stops, and upgrades to
connecting Stations are defined in this stage. This is a
critical stage to accommodate transfers and map out
circulation between transfers and potential streamlining
of vertical circulation (e.g. stairs, elevators) between
Stations and lines.
New Stations implemented via design-build combine

the next two phases, otherwise for the more traditional
design-bid-build process, have two distinct phases
that may take longer due to the need for an additional
procurement process.

4. Final Design. This phase completes all engineering

and architectural design refinements and Station design
details up to Approved for Construction (AFC) packages
level of completion.
5. Construction. Time-frames for implementation of

Stations are driven by magnitude of the overall project
and require an understanding of when transfer-related
aspects may undergo site-specific modifications, and
when oversight of final placement of transfer tools
is required.
6. Operations and Maintenance. All projects (new and

upgrades) should identify strategies and funding sources
to maintain a “State of Good Repair”. Convenient Paths At-Grade Stations are typically located
near intersections for easy connections between street crossings
and Station entrance pathways (Gold Line APU/Citrus College
Station, Azusa)
Efficiency his major underground Station enables customers to efficiently transfer between Red, Purple, lue and
Expo Lines (7th St/Metro Center, LA)

Step 2
Where are Customers
Transferring To/From?
After understanding your timeline, the next step is to
evaluate the physical space you have to work with and
the movement needed between Sidewalk Stops and/or
Stations. Perform a walk audit to understand the type of
transfer and space you have to work with.
There are three types of transfer movements: Sidewalk

Stop to Sidewalk Stop, Sidewalk Stop to Station, and
Station to Station. During this step, you’ll need to address
challenges specific to the transfer point’s context and Sidewalk Stop to Sidewalk Stop
coordinate with entities (public and/or private) who
control the path right-of-way and space available.
Sidewalk Stop to Station
Station to Station

Sidewalk Stop to Sidewalk Stop

Transit Services
Bus, shuttle, streetcar (could include bike share,
ride-share and emerging transit services).
Path
Public sidewalk, crosswalk, possibly private/public
right-of-way.
Entities
Transit Agencies typically install and operate
Sidewalk Stop information (e.g. bus pole and blade).
Local Jurisdictions typically control where transfer

movements will occur and how they function Crosswalks For safe movements between Sidewalk Stop to
(sidewalk or street, traffic signals, street lighting). Sidewalk Stop, high visibility crosswalks are essential
They can also control outdoor advertising-based (Westwood lvd, LA)
transfer tools such as shelters and kiosks, and the
amenities provided at the bus Stop (e.g. benches,
trashcans, bike racks, etc.).
Local Business Improvement District (BID) may

exist to implement and maintain public realm
amenities that can enhance the transfer experience
on the sidewalk (e.g. landscaping, lighting, security).
Challenges
• Walk distances between Sidewalk Stops.
• Complexity of path and number of street
crossings.
• Signal priority for pedestrians. Direct Connections Ideally, transfers are direct and do not
require crossing any streets, driveways or other points of conflict
• Narrow sidewalks that limit space for transfer with vehicles (Long each ransit Mall, Long each)
amenities and circulation.
• Cost to make substandard sidewalks and access
ramps ADA-compliant.
• Information/sign clutter.
• Low ridership may not justify cost.
• Coordinating with various entities responsible
for the installation and maintenance for Stop
amenities transfer amenities.
Median Station Stations may be located in the medians of

streets, increasing the number of street crossings customers
must cross between transfer points (Regional Transit Authority,
Cleveland)

Sidewalk Stop to Station
Transit Services
Bus, shuttle, streetcar, light rail, commuter rail,
heavy rail, and/or high-speed rail. Also can include
bike share and ride-share.
Path
Public sidewalk, crosswalk, private/public right-
of-way, Station area and any vertical transitions to
platform.
Entities
Transit Agencies typically install and operate
Sidewalk Stop information (e.g. bus pole and blade).
They also build and maintain Stations and related
property or structures. Direct Connections Ideally, Sidewalk Stops are located
directly at Stations, reducing number of street crossings and
Local Jurisdictions typically control where transfer walking distances (Expo Line, Santa Monica)
movements will occur and how they function:
sidewalk or street, traffic signals, street lighting.
They can also control outdoor advertising-based
such as shelters and kiosks, and the amenities
provided at the Stop (e.g. trashcans, bike racks).
Local Business Improvement District (BID) or Joint

Development Owner may be involved to implement
and maintain public realm amenities that can
enhance the transfer experience on the sidewalk.
Transit agencies can partner with private developers
to lease land at Stations and share maintenance
responsibilities of public areas.
Challenges
• Walk distance between Sidewalk Stop and
Station. Station Layout us boarding is located below the rail platform
• Complexity of path, street crossings and vertical ( AR San Leandro Station, San Francisco)
transitions.
• Prioritizing pedestrians in a busy multi-modal
environment.
• Narrow sidewalk or Station site that limits
possible transfer tools.
• Cost to make substandard sidewalks and access
ramps ADA-compliant.
• Consistency of transfer information.
• Proper siting of transfer tools given multiple
entry/exit points.
• Balancing space needed for bus boarding and
bike amenities.

Station to Station
Transit Services
Bus, shuttle, light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail,
and/or high-speed rail. Also can include bike center/
hub, bike share, ride-share, taxi, etc.
Path
Station area with likely vertical transitions between
platforms (typically does not involve leaving paid
area and crossing a street).
Entities
Transit Agencies control all Station information
and amenities. Direct Connections Transfer paths may need to go from
street level to underground facilities (Red/Orange Line, North
Local Jurisdictions may be involved. Hollywood)
Joint Development: Transit agencies may partner

with private developers and lease land for
development at Stations and share maintenance
responsibilities of public areas.
Challenges
• Complexity of path and vertical transitions
between Station platforms.
• Proper siting of multiple entry/exit points and
avoiding long walk and pinch points.
• Consistency of transfer information and signage
across multiple transit operators.
• More likely to need more space and tools to
accommodate higher volume of riders.
• Adequate wayfinding to transit connections, Signage along Paths Clear signage between Stations is critical
streets and destinations. to help customers make decisions on where to go (MTA Fulton
Street Station, New York City)
• Difficult to prescribe improvements for this
transfer type due to variety of Station layouts and
context; each will be unique.
• Providing intuitive and direct paths when
retrofitting mid-line rail Stations that will become
a rail-to-rail transfer Station as the system
expands.
Consolidated Signage Clear signage at the entrance of the

Station directs customers to their appropriate platform and
provides real-time information (Union Station, LA)

Step 3
How Do I Design a Good
Transfer Experience?
The transfer experience involves three components.
First, a customer must make decisions as to how they
will reach their desired Sidewalk Stop or Station. Second,
A
a customer must move from one transfer point to the
next. Third, a customer will wait to board their next
transit vehicle. The recommendations that follow are
organized into these three components – if addressed
to their greatest degree, the transfer experience should
be consistently clear, efficient, and comfortable. The
following pages describe the guidelines for each Making Decisions
component.
Refer to the Design Checklist in Section 5: Design

Toolbox for the general steps in chronological order
you should go about designing your Sidewalk Stop or
Station.
Then refer to the Design Toolbox in Section 5: Design

Toolbox for more information on the recommended tools
in each component.
B
If the sidewalk space you’re working with is narrow, refer
to the Strategies for Narrow Sidewalks in Section 5:
Design Toolbox.
When designing or improving a Terminus Station (a

complex transfer point), refer to Strategies for Terminus
Stations in Section 5: Design Toolbox. Moving
Waiting to Board

Typical Sidewalk Stop to Station Transfer Experience...

A Making Decisions
Customers Where do I need to transfer

to arrive at my destination?
Often Ask
Will be able to find
Themselves: the next vehicle in time?
What is the shortest and fastest

path between transfer points?
Well-designed Sidewalk Stops and Stations provide clear

information in locations that can be found intuitively
and help customers find their next transfer point at key
decision points. Well-placed signage and information
are key to making a smooth and seamless transfer
experience.

Recommendations
What types of information How can I maximize clarity for
? are needed? ? customers?
• Stop or Station identifier (including subway • Transfer points should be visible from each other,
portal design). or otherwise supplemented with clear wayfinding.
• Maps (e.g. system, routes and vicinity). • Consolidate multi-jurisdictional information
• Schedules. on a single Sidewalk Stop pole for clear and
convenient access.
• Real-time information.
• Present information in several forms (e.g.
• Wayfinding to connecting transit services, nearby audio, pictograms, braille) to serve people of all
destinations, bike facilities (bike center/hub, abilities: customers with visual impairments,
bike share, bike parking, bike routes) and auto limited mobility, low literacy, and disabilities.
facilities (parking, loading, ride-share).
• Install real-time information and digital displays
at all Sidewalk Stops and Stations to provide
most up-to-date information to pedestrians.
Where should I place
? this information? • Assure that display is visible at all times of day/
night (accounting for sun movement and glare).
• Wayfinding should be immediately visible at • Locate station identifier (e.g. Metro Pin) for
decision points such as when alighting off the maximum visibility from the public right-of-way
vehicle, between automobile or bicycle facilities, as a customer approaches the Station.
along the path at points of potential confusion
such as turns or corners, transitions to vertical • Use wayfinding to direct customers between
circulation and/or areas with multiple boarding platforms and out of the Station at their desired
areas and multiple lines operate. exit point (when there are multiple).
• Place schedules and maps on transit vehicles • Clearly mark boarding areas/paid fare zones.
and in boarding areas in shelters, map cases, or
digital displays such as digital information kiosks.
• All information can be available at customer
service kiosks, which can be staffed or interactive.
• All information can be provided on a mobile
transit application where it can be accessed by
anyone at anytime.

A Making Decisions
1. Schedule & Maps

6. Station Entrance
3. Decision Point
2. Station Identifier
5. Sidewalk Stop Pole
4. Wayfinding
See the Section 5: Design Toolbox for more information on these design tools and how to apply them.

1. Schedule & Maps 1. Schedule & Maps 2. Station Identifier
3. Decision Point 3. Decision Point 4. Wayfinding
4.5.Wayfinding
Sidewalk Stop Pole 5. Sidewalk Stop Pole 6. Station Entrance

B Moving
Station Entrance
el
nn
tu
an
Station Entrance
stri
de
tion
Pe
Bus Sta
Customers Am I on the shortest and fastest path

between transfer points?
Often Ask
Do I feel comfortable and safe when
Themselves: moving between transfer points?
Moving between Sidewalk Stops and Stations can

involve a number of path types (sidewalks, street
crossings, vertical transfers via ramps, elevator, stairs,
or escalator) often controlled by different entities.
These entities must work together to design paths
that are not only safe but short and fast.
PEDESTRIANS FIRST! Everyone is a pedestrian when he/

she is getting on or off a transit vehicle. For this reason
it’s critical that good pedestrian design principles are
integrated at every stage of the transfer experience. A
“pedestrian first” policy includes prioritizing space for
buses at transfer points. After pedestrians, bicyclists
and human-powered wheels should be accommodated
so the first/last mile connections are optimized. This
is consistent with local and state “Complete Streets”
mandate. To assure accessibility, design in compliance
with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Thirdly,
auto-access can be addressed after the first two are done
properly.

Recommendations
How can I design • Adjust curb radii when installing curb bulb-
? the shortest transfer path? outs at intersection corners. Smaller curb radii
can reduce vehicle turning speeds. Determine
• Reduce the number of street crossings between ideal radii with traffic engineer to accommodate
transfer points by consolidating multiple Sidewalk vehicle turn movements while not compromising
Stop or locate Sidewalk Stops adjacent to Station pedestrian comfort and safety.
entry point(s). • Minimize curb cuts by narrowing or removing
• Minimize walk distance between transfer points, driveways all together. This reduces the potential
especially crosswalk distance where potential for pedestrian-vehicle conflict, making moving safer.
pedestrian-vehicle and bike-vehicle conflicts • Provide walkways, when possible, rather than
occur. Install curb bulb-out, sidewalk widening, ramps. However, ramps over 7% require a great
or painting of unused roadway. amount of energy for a customer in a manual
• Locate Sidewalk Stops on far side of a street chair.
where there is signal priority to facilitate on-street • Surfaces can have a maximum incline of 2% and
transit vehicle movement. Where there is no ramps can have an maximum incline of 8%.
signal priority, place Sidewalk Stops on the same • Provide stairways and ramps that are weather-
side of the street. protected and have adequate lighting.
• Station transfer paths should be as direct as • Provide minimum of 10 feet of sidewalk/platform
possible vertically, minimizing the number of clear zone for loading onto transit vehicles; up
times a customer has to locate and use vertical to 20 feet at high ridership Stations; or greater if
circulation (stairs, escalators or elevators). required by code.
? How can I create

a comfortable and safe path?
• Install escalators adjacent to stairways to provide
customers a more comfortable and efficient
option (vertical circulation).
• For convenient wheelchair access, provide a • Elevators should be easy to find, transparent for
minimum 5 foot clear pedestrian path to the added security, and well-integrated into Station.
boarding area. • Integrate bike channels/ramps along side of
• Provide continental crosswalks and bi-directional stairways to make bicycle transfers more efficient.
access ramps at intersections between transfer (Note: Bike channels are not well suited for
points. At high ridership transfer points consider existing stairs as the slope is often steep and
scramble crosswalks (all pedestrians cross handrails interfere with leaning and balancing).
at once). ADA ramps are also usable by bicycles.
• Avoid placing pedestrian crossings along • Identify all bike and auto-access facilities and
rail tracks. assure they do not interfere with pedestrian
• Adjust signal timing as pedestrian volumes paths at Sidewalk Stops or Stations, even if this
increase. Provide pedestrian lead interval signal means longer walking distances for customers
timing and/or automatic walk (no push) signals moving between bike/auto-access facilities to
near Sidewalk Stops and Stations, especially at boarding areas.
transfer points with high ridership.
• Implement a median refuge where crossings are
long and intimidate customers.

B Moving
1. Vertical Circulation
9. Station Entrance
2. Bike Facilities
6. Leading Ped Interval
8. ADA Path Compliance 3. Crosswalk
5. Bi-directional
Access Ramps
4. Curb Bulb-out
7. Median Refuge

1. Vertical Circulation 2. Bike Facilities 3. Crosswalk
4. Curb Bulb-out 5. Bi-directional Access Ramps 6. Leading Pedestrian

Interval
7. Median Refuge 8. ADA Path Compliance 9. Station Entrance

C Waiting to Board
Customers When is the next transit

vehicle arriving?
Often Ask
Is this a clean and safe environment to
Themselves: wait for and board my vehicle?
Are there amenities that improve

my waiting experience?
The transit boarding area should feature basic amenities

that make a customer’s experience waiting to board
safe, comfortable and convenient. First you’ll need to
plan and design adequate waiting space for customers
to stand or sit, then with any remaining space amenities
should be integrated. Where Sidewalk Stops have limited
sidewalk space, accommodation should be made for
pedestrian paths first, clear waiting area next, and then
amenities. Once pedestrian paths and boarding areas are
accommodated, bicycle facilities can be sited.

Recommendations
How do I design for • Evaluate lighting to reduce issues for persons
? safety and comfort? with disabilities (See Metro ffice of ivil Rights
Station Lighting Design Handbook).
• Coordinate transit schedules to reduce waiting • Provide WiFi. About 38% of Metro bus riders and
time transfers and link bus time points to rail 47% of Metro rail riders own a smart phone4. As
Stations. Metro transit riders tend to have lower incomes
• Provide adequate waiting space (assume than the County average, the ability to retrieve
6 square feet per person) based on average wait information through WiFi could be especially
times, passenger volumes, and service frequency. valuable for those with limited cellular data plans5.
• Similarly, consider travel patterns and times to • Integrate public art for visual interest and to
determine shading, lighting, and special security create a sense of place.
needs. • Assess collision data to improve design
• Provide minimum of 10 feet in length for measures to improve safety at Stops. If high
boarding in front of transit shelters where number of collisions, consider additional
possible, or greater if required by code. protection barriers for people waiting at Stops.
• Establish a clear zone of at least 5 feet width • Budget for regular maintenance and cleaning.
between the curb edge and Sidewalk Stop/Station • Consider strategic access improvements (e.g.
furniture for unobstructed movement and broken curbs, cracked sidewalk) around path and
ADA compliance. boarding area.
• Avoid clutter of street amenities within the • Locate ticketing close to the path to keep
boarding area, including the required 5’x 8’ ADA movement unobstructed. Locate fare collection
pad at the bus door entrance. devices on the vehicle instead of at Sidewalk
• Consider providing tactile cues/elements at bus Stops. At Stations, place devices in close
Stop pole and bus boarding locations. proximity to ticketing machines.
• Provide seating with backrest (as required by • Consider placing a security kiosk or other ways to
ADA code) and intermediate arm rests that will have a security presence (local law enforcement,
not invite graffiti or sleeping. transit agency or adjacent development).
• Provide lean bars where sidewalks space is • Evaluate demand and ability to maintain a secure
limited as alternative to seating. public restroom for customers and transit agency.
Locate restrooms within the paid boarding area
• Provide trash receptacles (and recycle receptacles so customers do not need to exit and re-enter the
if appropriate). boarding area.
• Install concrete bus pads to minimize • Where transfer points (including Stations) are
maintenance of streets that Sidewalk Stop noisy, install sound barriers to shield customers
vehicles travel on for boarding/alightings. from noises outside the areas waiting to board.
• Where sidewalk space allows, provide shelter,
or shade tree as an alternative to protect from
elements and sun if orientation allows.
• Capitalize on opportunities to request an
adjacent developer provide amenities such
as shade structures or waiting area on private
property (e.g. plaza or promenade) adjacent to
Sidewalk Stop or Station entrance(s). 4 Metro Annual n- oard ustomer Service Satisfaction Survey,
Spring 2015
5 US Census 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year
Estimates

C Waiting to Board
2. Shelter
1. Lighting
3. Wifi 4. Shade Tree
6. Seating
8. Clear Zone
9. ADA Accessibility
10. Bus Pad 7. Trash & Recycling Receptacle 5. Lean Bar

1. Lighting 2. Shelter 3. WiFi
4. Shade Tree 5. Lean Bar 6. Seating
7. Trash & Recycling 8. Clear Zone 9. ADA Accessibility

Receptacle

4 Application
Strategies
Recommended The last section of the Metro Transfers Design Guide
Application
provides a road map with strategies to apply the guiding
principles and design considerations in this document
to Metro’s current and future work efforts.
Strategies
As such, this Guide will serve as a resource to Metro
staff, contractors, and partner agencies to:
1. Inform current and future infrastructure projects to

improve connectivity for more seamless transfers.
2. Guide discussions and decision-making for major
strategic planning efforts, which will set long-term
priorities for transit improvements across LA County.
3. Share improvement ideas with local jurisdictions
and transit operators to consider in support
of maximizing the value of Measure M transit
investments and leveraging the benefits of regional
growth and development near transit in LA County.

Application Strategy #1:

Inform Current & Future
Metro Projects
To maximize the value of current and future transit
investments, this Guide will aid multiple departments
and disciplines within Metro with the following list of
internal efforts to carry out Measure M projects. Inter-
department coordination and collaboration will be
critical to effectively complete this work.
• Plan new transit corridors for a convenient and

well-connected transportation network.
• Design new stations (with updated standards
and guidelines) to accommodate easy transfers.
• Prepare first/last mile improvement plans for
new transit stations and 100+ major bus Stops in
LA County to improve safe paths to transit, on
foot and/or by bike.
• Integrate transfer improvements as part of capital
improvement and joint development projects.
• Manage mobility programs (e.g. bike share,
commuter parking, microtransit).
• Enhance and expand transit information and
communication tools (e.g. maps, signs, wayfinding,
apps) to improve navigation and decision-making.
New Transit Corridors As part of Measure M, Metro is
• Expand TAP card payment and management options, tunneling to build three underground rail lines (Los Angeles)
as well as expand the number of providers that use
TAP cards for customer ease.

Application Strategy # 2:
Inform Strategic Planning Efforts
Since the passage of Measure M (2016), Metro has
initiated three major strategic planning efforts to guide
upcoming transit investments. The recommendations
in this report have the opportunity to inform critical
discussions, which will help set priorities for future
transit improvements.
1. Metro Long Range Plan creates a framework for long-

term planning efforts for 40 years of transportation
investments.
Long Range Planning Projects Station under construction
» Consider how connectivity could help prioritize along Crenshaw Line, one of many new transit stations funded
project funding, sequencing, and resource by Measure M (Los Angeles)
allocation for transit improvements and programs
over the next several decades, as well as
maintenance for “State of Good Repair”.
2. Metro Strategic Plan sets goals and policies for the

Agency for the next ten years.
» Address how connectivity and the customer
experience are integrated into the Strategic Plan’s
actions and policies.
3. NextGen Bus Study reimagines bus service in LA

County to better serve customers and connect bus
service to the expanding rail and BRT system.
Explore strategies to:
» Link the bus and rail network for convenient trip
planning Bus Service Metro buses, as well as tour buses Stop in front of
Red Line Station at Hollywood/Highland (Hollywood, LA)
» Analyze how fare structures impact trip planning
and transfers
» Reduce the number of transfers customers need to
make to complete a trip
» Reduce average wait times for transfers
» Prioritize transfer improvements

Application Strategy # 3
Transfer Improvement
Opportunities for Local
Jurisdictions & Transit Operators
The following list outlines opportunities to coordinate
with local jurisdictions and transit operators on transfer
improvement initiatives that are beyond Metro’s
immediate purview, but impact the customer experience
and quality of transit in LA County.
Regional and Local Transit Operators

Public-Private Partnership Metro partnered with The Bloc
1. Transit Data. Develop a set of best practices to
and local businesses, resulting in direct access to private
collect and share transit data across jurisdictions and businesses from the Station (7th St/Metro Center Station, LA)
transit operators.
2. Transit Signage. Develop a set of best practices to
display transit information and signage across LA
County.
3. Transit Fares. Develop potential strategies to simplify
fare structures between transit operators to make it
easier for customers to transfer between operators as
part of their trip.
Local Jurisdictions
1. Street & Capital Improvements Projects. Use this
Guide to inform the planning and design of capital
improvement projects that are within the public ROW
to improve safety, accessibility, and comfort for riders.
Prioritize safety and accessibility improvements along Advertising An advertising company owns and maintains
streets and sidewalks that serve transit. most of the bus Stop furniture in West Hollywood (e.g. Stop
2. Public Benefits for Development Projects. Identify identity pole, shade structure, real-time bus information, ADA
upgrades, WiFi access, etc) (West Hollywood)
transfer improvements that could be included in
public benefit packages for development projects at,
or near, major transfer points.
3. Enforcement of Bus Stops. Increase enforcement of
bus Stops to maintain clear zones, and prevent non-
permitted vehicles from blocking bus Stops. This will
improve safety and reliability of bus service.
4. Advertising Agreements for Transit Amenities.
Prioritize transit customer needs in agreements with
advertising companies by: prioritizing high ridership
locations for the installation of bus shelters and other
transit amenities in the near term, and requiring bus
shelters at all or most bus Stops in the longer term.

5 Design
Toolbox
Design
Checklist
Whether you’re designing just one Stop, making
improvements to an existing one, or planning for an
entirely new transit line with multiple Stations, this
Design Checklist will walk you through the decision-
making process, from data collection to understanding
The Design Checklist is a guide that can the travel paths, then agency coordination and safety
be used when embarking on a planning considerations, and lastly to design.
and design process to improve the Depending on what type of project is being undertaken
transfer experience. (Sidewalk Stop, Station, major investment, modest
remodel) the checklist can be used in part or in whole
to assure you considered key aspects, with the goals
of achieving an effective transfer experience for the
customer traveling anywhere in LA County.
There are a number of open data sites and portals that

could be useful to reference as part of the data collection
process, including:
• Metro First/Last Mile Strategic Plan and

Walk Audit
(https://www.metro.net/projects/sustainability-
first-last/)
• Metro Active Transportation Strategic Plan Data
(http://gis.fehrandpeers.com/metroatsp/)
• City of Los Angeles Vision Zero data
(http://visionzero.lacity.org/map/)

Design Toolbox
1 DATA
Collect relevant data to understand design issues

RIDERSHIP DATA. How many customers use/will
use the Sidewalk Stop or Station? How many will be
transferring?

COLLISION DATA. Are there a high number of collisions
in the area (pedestrian/auto, bike/auto)? Is the Stop/
Station on the Vision Zero Network?

TRANSIT SERVICE DATA. What is the frequency of service
(and average wait time)?

USER SURVEY DATA. Have any recent user surveys been
conducted at the Stop/Station?

MULTIMODAL DATA. Are there pedestrian and bicycle
counts or other active transportation data to inform
design?

CRIME DATA. Does this area have special security needs
to ensure customers feel comfortable waiting for trains
and buses?

STAKEHOLDERS. Are there other parties who help oversee
or maintain the area (e.g. Business Improvement District,
Merchants Association) that possess relevant data?
2 TRANSFER POINTS AND PATHS

Identify the transfer points and transfer paths
within the transfer zone

STOPS AND STATIONS. Where are all the Sidewalk Stops
and Stations within the transfer zone?

TRANSFER PATHS. What is/are the ideal path(s) for
customers to arrive at the desired Stop or Station? Where
is the shortest and safest route?

WALK AUDIT. What opportunities and constraints has the
Walk Audit revealed? Document with photos.

RELEVANT PROJECTS. Are there current or future
planning and development projects to be coordinated
with (e.g. active transportation, streetscape, access
compliance)?

PARTNERSHIPS. Is new development planned at a
Sidewalk Stop or Station that can integrate transfer tools
into their site (e.g. shade structure, seating or standing
space, bike racks, etc)?
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. Are there
opportunities for a Station TOD or other joint-development
agreement that affects how the transfer environment
should be designed?

3 AGENCY COORDINATION
Coordinate with transit operators with public
agencies that oversee the transfer environment

COMMUNICATING GOALS WITH TRANSIT AGENCY.
Is connectivity included as a project goal and
communicated with the transit agency providing service
and their affected departments (e.g. Planning, Operations,
Active Transportation, Communications, etc)?

COMMUNICATING GOALS WITHIN CITY. Have project
goals been communicated to the local jurisdictions’
departments?

CONSOLIDATION. Can Sidewalk Stop locations be
consolidated, or at least minimize the number of street
crossings needed to make a transfer?

SIGNAGE. Can signage been consolidated to improve
clarity and avoid street clutter?

SCHEDULING. Can line schedules be refined to minimize
wait times between transfers?

REVIEW AND APPROVALS. Has the review and approval
process needed for each agency been mapped out? Is there
an ability to streamline the process?

COMPLIANCE. Is the Stop, Station and path code
compliant at a local, state and federal level?

MAINTENANCE. Do all the involved parties understand
who is responsible for maintenance of each tool?

FUNDING. Which agencies or stakeholders can contribute
to improving and maintaining the transfer zone?
SAFETY & SECURITY

4 Identify site specific issues to address

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. How can pedestrian safety be
improved within the transfer zone? Does it require
adjusting traffic signal synchronization, or installing more
visible crosswalks, median refuges and/or lead pedestrian
intervals? Or reducing rail crossings?

LIGHTING. Is there adequate lighting so the transfer zone
is comfortable for customers to use at night?

CPTED. Consider crime prevention through environmental
design (CPTED) for placement of amenities.

SECURITY STAFF. Is there a need for security personnel at
certain times of day/night or locations?

Design Toolbox
5 DESIGN
As presented in Section 3: Three Steps to Improve Transfers, and the Design
Toolbox included in this Section 5, there are three aspects of design that must be
addressed to create a successful transfer environment:
A Making Decisions C Waiting to Board

Information. Safety, Comfort and Convenience.
Have types and locations been identified? What will be provided to enhance the customer
Is information accessible to all customers (e.g. experience when making their transfer?
braille, audible, tactile, pictograms)? • Reduce waiting time
• Stop or Station Identifier • Adequate waiting and boarding space
• Maps • Regular maintenance/cleaning
• Schedules • Amenities by adjacent developer
• Real time information • Shelter and/or shade tree
• Wayfinding to transit services and destinations • Seating, lean bards, trash receptacles
• Ticketing machine, fare collection close
B Moving to path
• Public restrooms
Paths. • Sound barriers
What are the shortest and safest paths?
• WiFi
Can improvements/modifications be made to
• Security kiosk
provide the most direct accessible route?
• Public art
• Minimized street crossings
• Minimized walk distances and vehicle conflicts
• Sidewalk Stops at far side; or if no signal
priority on same side of intersection as other
Stop/Station
• Avoided rail crossing
• Lead pedestrian interval
• Continental or scramble crossings,
median refuge
• Bi-directional access ramps and curb bulb-outs
• Clear pedestrian pathways (ideally 10’ minimum)
• Lighting
• Bike ramps/channels and storage
• Auto drop-off zone, minimized curb cut widths
• Visible and efficient placement of
vertical circulation
• ADA compliance and universal design approach

6 PRIORITIZATION
REQUIRED. What type of improvements are required by
code and/or by agency standards for transfers?

RANKING. What are the most important improvements,
and in what order are they needed, to enhance the transfer
experience?

FUNDING. What can be implemented based on available
funding? What funds can be sought?

TODAY. What improvements can be installed within
existing transfer zone footprint today?

FUTURE. What improvements are beyond the footprint
and immediate control of the planning/design entity that
can be phased, or build off of efforts by others? (Future)
7 IMPLEMENTATION

BUILD OUT. What method of procurement will be used to
implement transfer improvements: Design/bid/build, or
AD design/build, or public/private partnership?
RO RK
WO AD

E
AH CONSTRUCTION. What measures can be taken to
ensure existing service is minimally disrupted during
construction? How will information be provided to
customers during construction? Where are temporary
Stops?
8 ON-GOING

UPKEEP OF ENVIRONMENT. How will ongoing quality of
the transfer zone and experience be maintained?
AL
K

ON-GOING EVALUATION. What metrics should be used
EW D
SI D OSE
CL E
to assess improvements (e.g. ridership changes, safety
ER
CR
OS
S H
improvements, reduction in vandalism, etc) once transfer
improvements are implemented?

Design Toolbox
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The Design Toolbox can be used for improving existing
transfer points and planning new ones. With a collection
How to Use the
Toolbox
of tools, the Toolbox is intended to be flexible and
adaptable to respond to different site conditions in LA
County and transit customer volumes, patterns, and
transfer needs.
The Design Toolbox offers a set of tools to Each tool is presented with a short summary, which
improve the transfer experience so it can outlines the purpose of each element, design
considerations for successful implementation, the
be more safe, convenient, and comfortable anticipated level of difficulty to implement, common
for customers. maintenance responsibilities, and local precedent
examples.
Because the installation and maintenance costs for tools

widely vary based on location, material, and related
improvements, the Level of Difficulty score reflects an
estimated magnitude of costs along with other factors.
Used with the Design Checklist (page 59), the Toolbox

aims to improve the customer experience for convenient
transfers as part of a seamless trip.
Who Should The Design Toolbox is intended to serve as a resource for:

• Transit agency staff
Use the • Local transit operators

• Planning, Transportation and Public Works
Design Toolbox? staff at local jurisdictions

• Developers with projects adjacent to major
transfer points

Design Toolbox

The recommended design elements are listed in
alphabetical order and organized by the three key
transfer activities: making decisions, moving, and
waiting to board.
The table provides a hierarchy for consideration for each
tool: (P) for priority tools, (R) for recommended tools, or
Recommended (C) tools for consideration. A dashed line indicates that
Toolbox
the tool is not likely applicable for the site condition (e.g.
Sidewalk Stop, Station).
Sidewalk Stops and Stations with high ridership, as
discussed in Section 2: Background, have 500 or more
riders (boardings and alightings) per day. While most
of the recommended elements will be placed within the
transfer zone (i.e. approximately 500 feet from a transit
Stop), some elements may be located beyond this area.
When considering the layout of transfer areas, it is
critical to maintain a clear path of travel. See Section 5:
Strategies for Narrow Sidewalks & Terminus Stations
for guidance on how to prioritize placement of design
tools along narrow sidewalks and/or constrained spaces.

Design Toolbox
Toolbox
Sidewalk Stop with
Sidewalk Stop High Ridership
(<500 Rides per Day) (500 or More Rides per Day) Station
A Making Decisions
Digital Information Kiosk — P P
Customer Service Kiosk — C P
Schedule and Maps R P P
Real-time Arrival Information R P P
Station Identifier — — P
Sidewalk Stop Pole P P P
Wayfinding (e.g. visual, audio, tactile) R P P
B Moving
Bi-directional Access Ramps P P P
Bike Center/Hub — C R
Bike Lockers — C C
Bike Racks R R P
Bike Channel/Ramp C C C
Bike Share (within service area) C R P
Car Share — C C
Continental Crosswalk R P P
Curb Bulb-out C C R
Leading Pedestrian Interval C P P
Median Refuge C C C
Minimize Curb Cuts R R P
Passenger Loading Zone — C R
Parking Facilities — — C
Scramble Crosswalk — C R
Vertical Circulation (or multi-level facilities) — — P
C Waiting to Board
Bus Pad R P P
Clear Zone P P P
Fare Collection C C P
Lean Bar C C C
Lighting P P P
Public Art C C P
Restrooms — C C
Seating R P P
Security Kiosk — C C
Shade P P P
Shelter R P P
Sound Barrier — C C
Ticketing Machine — C P
Trash & Recycling Receptacles R P P
WiFi C R P
Legend: P = Priority R = Tool Recommended C = Considered — = Likely Not Applicable

A Making Decisions
Digital Information Kiosk

Touch-screen ad-based digital information kiosks can
provide a variety of information such as service updates
and maps in one convenient location. Kiosks can be
funded by advertising contracts and generate revenue for
operators.
Design Considerations
• Priority at high ridership Sidewalk Stops and Stations.
• Warrants high visibility location with ample clear zone to
access touch-screen.
• May serve as Station identifiers.
• Requires power and communication lines.
• Consider ways to make information accessible to
persons with disability.
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Private entity that
Precedent: New York City installed the kiosk would likely maintain
its content and functionality. Consider content-
management strategy.
Digital information is easily updated, compared
with physical signs that need to be created and
installed when information changes.
Customer Service Kiosk

Customer service kiosks typically provide staff to answer
questions and can enhance the customer experience. They
are especially important for visitors, infrequent transit
users, transferring passengers that only have limited use
of a smart phone, or for passengers in need of specific
assistance or accommodation. Consider translation
services to make information accessible to non-English
speakers.
• Priority at Stations.
• Kiosks must be highly visible and user friendly,
either staffed with personnel (preferred) or offered
as an interactive intercom.
• Can provide security presence near fare gates.
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Maintenance
Precedent: Sanchong Station, Taipei, Taiwan Requires friendly staff to operate.
Responsible Entities: Transit agency, local
jurisdiction, or vendor contract.

Design Toolbox
Schedules and Maps

Schedules and maps (system, line, vicinity, etc) help
customers understand transfer points and destinations,
allowing them to travel efficiently.
• Can be physical or digital.
• Smartphone apps can provide same level of information
to users of a particular Sidewalk Stop who possess them.
• Maps and schedules can be placed within a case,
bus shelter, or as a stand-alone sign.
• Maps and schedules can be displayed on
digital screens (see Digital Information Kiosk).
Level of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction, vendor
contract or transit operator. Area maps are
Local Precedent: Red/Purple Line sometimes provided by a local jurisdiction or other
Wilshire/Vermont Station major entity (such as a business improvement
district) responsible for the area.
Upgrade maps to digital format, wherever
possible, to improve reliability and maintenance.
Real-time Arrival Information

Real-time arrival information tells customers the predicted
arrival times for transit vehicles. Passengers can anticipate
and make informed decisions to change their route or
mode of transit if service is delayed or affected. Real-time
information is currently being implemented at 300 of
Metro’s busiest bus Stops.
• Place digital arrival signs at the Sidewalk Stop, or within
transit vehicles.
• Provide information through a smartphone application,
in addition to physical signs.
• Can include information on maintenance or
other delays.
• Can provide information in audio or visual formats.
Local Precedent: Santa Monica Maintenance
Responsible Entities: May require coordination
between multiple transit operators who control the
information and possibly a public or private entity
installing/maintaining the infrastructure.

A Making Decisions
Station Identifier
Station identifiers notify customers of the Station’s
entrance. Without Station identifiers, customers may be
confused where to make their transfer, especially if transfer
points are not proximate or visible.
• Must be at least 10’ tall to be visible from different angles.
• Must identify transit lines the Station offers.
• May be a pole or pylon on street level, or a large sign
located above a building entry.
• Station identifiers on building entrances may
require coordination with the building owner and
additional approvals.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Transit agency who owns and
Local Precedent: Red/Orange Line operates the Station.
North Hollywood Station, LA
Consider graffiti proof surfaces or a more frequent
maintenance schedule.
Sidewalk Stop Pole

Sidewalk Stop poles identify the Stop location and
demarcate the vehicle front door. If designed well, poles
can consolidate transit information, reduce clutter in the
boarding area, and be accompanied by an auditory bus
announcement device. Bus bay Stations use Sidewalk Stop
poles to identify waiting areas for different lines of service.
• Priority at all Sidewalk Stops and Stations (bus bays).
• Consolidate multiple line information wherever possible
to minimize clutter and confusion of where to board.
• Shared sign poles require coordination between various
transit operators.
• Operator determines placement, but pole may be
moved if opposed by local jurisdiction, adjacent
building owner, or other affected entity.
• Requires pole footing. Mount below-surface
wherever possible to eliminate exposed surface
Local Precedent: Broadway/Temple, Downtown LA
base and screws.
• Place pole at the front edge of the Sidewalk Stop
Maintenance per ADA requirements.
Responsible Entities: Maintained by the transit operator. • Consider tactile cues (braille) and push button
Requires repair, replacement or relocation. Will be more with audio route information.
costly to maintain if customized. Pole finish impacts
maintenance.

Design Toolbox
Wayfinding
Wayfinding signage is important for customers to
understand where they currently are located, decide
where they need to go, and determine how to reach their
destination. Wayfinding can clarify key landmarks, such as
nearby Sidewalk Stops/Stations or institutions. Wayfinding
in the form of auditory cues is an imperative substitute
for customers that are visually-impaired or have limited
literacy. Auditory cues alert passengers to approaching
vehicles and direct customers to the appropriate bays/
platforms and transit vehicles.
• Priority at high ridership Sidewalk Stops and
Stations.
• Place at decision points, such as adjacent to
boarding areas and along transfer paths, especially
where customers must change direction or use
vertical circulation.
Local Precedent: Expo Line, Santa Monica • Should be consolidated with other information as
much as possible.
• Consider ways to make information accessible to
persons with disability (e.g. tactile/braille).
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Transit operator or local
business district or jurisdiction. May be provided
by adjacent developer.
Wayfinding signage needs to be updated as
desired destinations evolve. Determine criteria
for what destinations should be included.
Coordinate wayfinding signage with local and
regional operators, where possible, to provide
consistency among messaging for easy navigation.

B Moving
Bi-directional Access Ramps

Bi-directional access ramps guide pedestrians and
wheelchair users directly onto the crosswalk, rather
than the center of the street. This creates a safer path,
especially for those using mobility devices or with
impaired vision.
• Priority at all Sidewalk Stops and Stations.
• Install detectable warning surfaces at the edges of the
median refuge and separate by a 2’ minimum length of
surface without detectable warnings.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works or
transit operator
Local Precedent: Silver Line El Monte Station,

El Monte
Bike Center/Hub
Bike center/hubs are staffed or unstaffed structures
that provide bike storage and services where there is a
high volume of bicyclists. The center/hub can provide
the following services: parking, repair, valet, parts or
accessories, bicycle rental or share, showers, and bicycle-
related classes and activities.
• Requires a minimum of 1,000 SF space.
• Locate near Stations and Stops with high bike parking
demand.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Bike centers/hubs are located
on property owned/leased by a private entity or
public agency. Bike center/hubs are staffed by the
owner or a contractor.
Local Precedent: Hollywood/Vine Bike Center/Hub,
North Hollywood
Metro has bike center/hubs at Union Station, El

Monte, Hollywood/Vine and Culver City (under
construction). Other bike centers/hubs are operated
by Burbank, Covina, Long Beach and Santa Monica.

Design Toolbox
Bike Lockers
Bike lockers provide enclosed, long-term storage, reducing
the need for customers to bring their bikes on transit
vehicles and thus speeds up transfers by improving access.
Typically, customers rent lockers from the transit agency for
a set rental period. Metro allows customers to rent lockers
for 6 months at a time, but the length of time can vary
in by jurisdiction.
• The amount of bike parking should respond to local
bike activity and needs. Perform a bike count or survey
of transit.
• Sidewalk Stops/Stations with high ridership should
consider space-efficient bike centers/hubs instead
of lockers.
• Larger facilities may accommodate multiple
bicycles in one locker or a small garage.
Provided at most Metro rail Stations

Level of Difficulty: Easy
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Metro currently owns and
maintains bike lockers at rail and BRT Stations,
but considers bike centers/hubs. Non-Metro
bike lockers are owned by local jurisdictions and
maintained by other operators.
Bike Racks
Bike racks are needed for short-term parking customers
who bicycle at the beginning or end of their transit journey.
• Place in high visibility locations (near Station entrances,
businesses, etc) for safety.
• Developers may provide racks on their property or
on sidewalks.
• The placement of bike racks should not impede
access along major pathways and/or boarding zones.
• The amount of bike parking should respond to
local bike activity and needs. Perform a bike count
or survey of transit. See First/Last Mile Toolkit for
more information on placement.
Maintenance
Provided at all Metro rail and BRT Stations Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction, transit
operator, or property owner.

B Moving
Bike Channel/Ramp
Bike channel/ramps are ramps installed on staircases that
enable cyclists roll their bikes up and down staircases,
rather than carry them. Bike channel/ramps make it easier
for customers to move with their bicycles to their next
Sidewalk Stop or Station and are best installed with new
Station designs.
• Located at Stations, where vertical circulation is needed.
• Staircases need to be built above minimum standards,
otherwise installing ramps may compromise fire
department exiting requirements.
• Install along outer edges of staircases or place
in center of staircase, where handrails do not
obstruct the customer’s control of his/her bicycle.
• Generally not suited as a retrofit for existing
Precedent: BART Warm Springs Station,
staircases, as slope is often steep and handrails
Fremont
interfere with leaning and balancing.
Maintenance • Discourage alternative uses (e.g. skateboards).
Responsible Entities: Transit agency will install, repaint, and
remove obstructions in bike channel/ramps.
Bike Share
Bike share allows customers to check out a bicycle for
short trips and facilitates movement between destinations,
Stations and Sidewalk Stops. It is especially useful for short
trips and first/last mile connections.
• Amount of bicycle stations and docks should respond
to popular destinations, public transit, and population
densities. Perform bike share feasibility study and crowd-
sourcing map to determine ideal locations.
• Place in space with high visibility.
• Can be located on sidewalks, in Station plazas, in
open areas, or repurpose car parking spaces, as a
“dock” or “station”, depending on program model.
• Consider ease of payment, such as ability to use
TAP cards to make travel more convenient.
Local Precedent: Downtown LA • Often have app support.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction, vendor contract or
transit operator.
Bikes may need to be balanced across network to avoid
under-supply at popular stations.

Design Toolbox
Car share
Car share offers customers the ability to rent a car on an
hourly or daily basis to reach destinations or transfer
between Stations.
• May be located at park-and-ride facilities or could use
local jurisdiction’s street parking or public lots.
• May influence parking meter operations and revenues.
• Car sharing companies usually want to locate at highly
visible locations for exposure of their service.
• Can be located within development projects if cities
encourage or require it.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Usually owned and operated
by a private entity, or joint responsibility with
transit agency through a public-private agreement.
Car share operates out of about 10 Metro park- Agreements may require private entity to pay
and-ride lots or rail Station-adjacent privately per space.
owned property lots.
Consider how the street will be cleaned. Some
companies have special maintenance vehicles that
clean underneath the car and do not require the
car be moved off the street.
Continental Crosswalk
Continental crosswalks feature distinct, two-foot wide
white painted strips that boost safety for pedestrians.
Also referred to as zebra crosswalks, continental crosswalks
increase pedestrian visibility and can reduce vehicle
encroachment into the crosswalk. Stripes are yellow
near schools.
• Place an advanced stop bar perpendicular to the
travel lane in advance of the crosswalk to increase
pedestrian safety.
• Width of crosswalk should be increased from
standard minimum if pedestrian volumes warrant.
City of Los Angeles standard is 15’ wide.
Maintenance
Local Precedent: Westwood, LA Responsible Entities: Local public works.
Crosswalks can fade with time and wear.
Thermoplastic material is considered most durable
and lasting.

B Moving
Curb Bulb-Out
Curb bulb-outs with reduced curb radii make street
crossings shorter and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
A curb bulb-out extends the sidewalk into the street,
reducing the street crossing distance for pedestrians. The
extension results in wider clear zones and more amenities.
By keeping buses in the travel lane and removing the need
for the bus to turn in and out of Sidewalk Stops, travel
times are shortened. While constructing curb bulb-outs,
reduce curb radii for more space and reduce vehicle turning
speeds, thus improving safety.
• May need to reduce curb, lane, or street parking
when extending the curb out into the street.
• Curb extension width is typically less than
the width of a street parking space. Lengths
vary depending on volume of users and
Sidewalk Stop length.
Local Precedent: Downtown LA • Construction may affect overall street profile and
drainage at street corners.
• Provide 10’ of space between queuing buses.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works. Curb extensions
should be cleaned regularly with sidewalk cleaning
program.
Leading Pedestrian Interval

Leading pedestrian intervals give pedestrians a head start
crossing the street before drivers are given a green light.
Thus drivers more easily detect pedestrians in the street,
making crossings safer and faster. Pedestrians are typically
given up to 10 seconds to start entering an intersection
with a corresponding green signal in the same direction
of travel.
• Install where pedestrian volumes and vehicle turning
volumes are high (where potential vehicle-pedestrian
conflicts are more likely).
• Requires changes in traffic synchronization.
• Consider adding audio to signal crossing.
Maintenance
Local Precedent: 7th St/Figueroa Responsible Entities: Local public works.

Design Toolbox
Median Refuge
A median refuge, or pedestrian island, provides a protected
space in the center of the street to facilitate safer pedestrian
and bicycle crossings. Angled “z-crossings” within the
median forces pedestrians, wheelchair-users and cyclists to
face and observe on-coming traffic before completing their
second leg of their crossing, improving safety.
• Useful where street crossings are wide and have a center
turn lane/median.
• Install detectable warning surfaces at the edges of the
median refuge separated by a 2’ minimum length of
surface without detectable warnings.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works.
Landscaping could increase the cost of
Local Precedent: Santa Monica Blvd, maintenance but improve overall comfort of
West Hollywood transfer path.
Minimize Curb Cuts

When making sidewalk and roadway improvements
and/or redeveloping a site for a new Station or private
development, local jurisdictions should 1) remove unused
curb cuts (driveways) or 2) narrow oversized curb cuts.
These methods make transfer paths safer, reducing
potential conflicts between vehicles and customers.
Reductions often extend a Sidewalk Stop boarding area for
better circulation and allow more room for transit vehicles
to stop.
• Priority at Stations
• Check that curb cuts are no wider than minimum
standard required by local jurisdiction.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works
Local Precedent: 4th Street, Santa Monica or private entity.

B Moving
Passenger Loading Zone

Passenger loading zones facilitate passenger pick-up and
drop-offs. Designating a space for this use reduces conflict
with vehicles and transit vehicle operations. As ride-sharing
smart phone applications become increasingly common,
the role that passenger loading zones play at Stations will
likely increase. The zone should accommodate persons
with disabilities, paratransit vehicles, microtransit, and
shuttle buses.
• Can create pull-in zone for loading/unloading to avoid
conflict with other vehicle circulation.
• Separate passenger loading areas from bus
operations to ensure safety. Prioritize bus loading
zones in hierarchy of boarding/drop-off areas.
• Anticipate demands of ride-sharing vehicles based
on nearby land use and points of interest.
Local Precedent: Union Station, LA Level of Difficulty: Medium

Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or transit operator.
Parking Facilities
Parking facilities provide long-term parking, increasing
access to transit for customers beyond an easy walk or bike
distance. Parking facilities are often placed at Terminus
Stations or transit hubs along major commuter routes.
They may include EV charging stations, van access, solar
panels, and retail storefronts, and can be integrated with
private development and operated as a shared facility to
take advantage of different parking use patterns.
• Design to accommodate future active uses, should
parking demands diminish over time (i.e. surface lots
preferred over structures)
• Include wayfinding, lighting, transit information,
and easy payment system.
• Ensure pedestrian paths between parking
and platform are safe, direct, convenient, and
accessible.
Local Precedent: Green Line Hawthorne • Requires parking enforcement and regulation to
Lennox Station manage supply and demand.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or transit
agency.
Note: Refer to the Metro Parking Design Toolkit

Design Toolbox
Scramble Crosswalk
Scramble crosswalks decrease the number of street-
crossing movements needed to transfer by allowing
pedestrians to cross diagonally. Scramble crossings are
safer because no vehicles can move while pedestrians cross
in all directions on one signal phase.
• Install at intersections with high-transfer activity.
• Requires altering signal phasing or timing.
• Crosswalks can be artistic and contribute to placemaking
if local jurisdiction permits.
• Consider adding audio to signal crossing.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works.
Local Precedent Hollywood/Highland
Vertical Circulation
Vertical circulation (e.g. stairs, escalators, elevators) allows
faster, safer movement for disabled customers, and those
traveling with strollers, luggage, bikes, etc. The location
of these elements is important for Stations where
customers are transferring from street level to elevated
or underground connections. Vertical circulation and
interface between Stops/Stations should minimize
the vertical and horizontal distances a customer must
travel to the greatest extent possible. Where bike channel/
ramps are not installed, bicyclists may use elevators for
vertical circulation.
• Priority at Stations with grade change.
• Stairs, escalators, and elevators should be visible
from boarding platforms and Station entry points
to make circulation clear and intuitive and reduce
wayfinding signage.
Local Precedent: Anaheim ARTIC • Elevators should be located in high visibility
locations and designed with transparent walls
to improve security.
• Bike channel/ramp should be integrated
into stairway design to reduce the demand on
elevators.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Transit agency.

C Waiting to Board
Bus Pad
Bus pads require less maintenance than asphalt-surfaced
streets and thus improve the transit system’s quality
of facilities service. Bus pads are reinforced concrete
foundations designed to handle the effects of bus
movements such as braking, turning, and accelerating.
• Provide bus pads at Sidewalk Stops. Multiple bus pads
may be needed at high volume Stops and/or layover
zones.
• Install concrete bus pads at BRT Stations.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works or transit
agency.
The initial cost of concrete pads is expensive, but
Local Precedent: Los Angeles concrete pads need much less maintenance than
asphalt and do not need to be replaced as soon.
Clear Zone
Establishing a clear zone between the curb edge and street
furniture creates uninterrupted space that makes boarding/
alighting smoother and faster. The clear zone should
facilitate movement for customers of all abilities.
• Relocate existing furnishings and above-ground street
utilities or boxes to establish the clear zone.
• The zone must comply with ADA requirements and
provide a 4’ minimum width for wheelchairs to move
unobstructed.
• Provide 8’ long clear sidewalk if bus provides 8’x5’
bus doors.
• Consider tactile cues for blind/visually impaired.
Maintenance
Local Precedent: Los Angeles Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or transit
operator.
Clear zone should be cleaned regularly with
sidewalk cleaning program.

Design Toolbox
Fare Collection
Locating fare collection devices (such as TAP validators)
within vehicles and allowing all-door boarding access
reduces queuing and speeds up boarding. Despite
2-hour free transfers, Metro currently requires
transferring passengers to use the TAP validator every
time they board a bus or rail vehicle. As technology
advances, fare collection tools may change and be
phased out over time.
• At Sidewalk Stops, locate within vehicles if possible.
• Expand fare management options to include
mobile payment to speed up boarding time and
provide more options to customers.
Maintenance
Local Precedent: Silver Line Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or transit
operator.
Lean Bar
Lean bars provide a more comfortable waiting experience
by offering optional standing spaces as opposed to
seating, especially where space is limited. Positioning lean
bars under shade features further enhances comfort to
customers.
• Design with durable surfaces to discourage graffiti and
dry faster in wet seasons.
• Consider dirt, graffiti and heat absorption when
selecting color.
• Ensure lean bar design complies with ADA requirements
for objects in the path of travel.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local public works, vendor
contract or transit operator.
Local Precedent: Downtown LA Maintenance includes regular cleaning, graffiti-
removal and occasional repair.

C Waiting to Board
Lighting
Lighting design and fixtures that are well-maintained
improve safety and security for customers moving or
waiting to board.
• Install lighting along key pedestrian pathways, at
Sidewalk Stops, and within Station areas to avoid
dark spaces.
• Integrate lighting into bus shelters, existing street poles,
and canopy columns to avoid clutter in public ROW an
street areas.
• Use LED fixtures to reduce maintenance needs.
• Design lighting to be pedestrian scale to avoid
“gas station” lighting effect.
• Evaluate lighting to reduce issues for persons with
disabilities. See Metro ffice of ivil Rights Station
Lighting Design Handbook.
Local Precedent: Gold Line Southwest
Museum Station Level of Difficulty: Medium
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or transit
operator.
Public Art
Public art makes the transit experience more inviting and
pleasurable, contributing to LA County’s artistic vibrancy
and fostering a sense of place. Metro Art incorporates
artwork into all Metro projects. Cities and local transit
agencies may also wish to commission public art into
transit elements located adjacent to Metro property.
• Engage Art Program staff early in the process to ensure
art is well integrated into project.
• Ensure artworks are created especially for their transit
sites and fabricated from highly durable materials.
• Ensure art complies with ADA requirements for
objects in the path of travel and walking surfaces.
Maintenance
Local Precedent: Little Tokyo, LA Responsible Entities: Maintenance plans are part of
the approval process regulated by authorities such
as a city’s Department of Cultural Affairs.

Design Toolbox
Restrooms
Availability of restrooms at Stations reduces missed
connections, provides comfort to transit customer, and
minimizes public health concerns. Restrooms are especially
important to transferring passengers with long trips.
• Should be located at high ridership Sidewalk Stops
and Stations with close coordination with security and
maintenance departments.
• Locate in paid fare area, where possible, for convenience
and security.
• May be provided by adjacent transit-oriented development.
Maintenance
Requires ongoing staff to maintain cleanliness
Precedent: New Zealand of restrooms.
Seating
Seating provides customers a more comfortable waiting
experience, especially when waiting more than 10 minutes.
Ideally seating is sheltered. If additional is needed, shaded
or unprotected seating will suffice. Seating can help identify
a Sidewalk Stop location where no shelter exists.
• Should have intermediate armrests to serve disabled
passengers and discourage non-transit related uses (e.g.
sleeping).
• Folding seats and lean bars can be used when space is
limited.
• Provide seating based on need and space available.
• Discourage dirt, graffiti and heat absorption when
selecting color and material.
• Design to dry faster in wet seasons.
Local Precedent: Downtown Long Beach • Maintain adequate space for wheelchairs within
sheltered seating area.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction, vendor contract or
transit operator.
Maintenance includes regular cleaning, graffiti-removal and
occasional repair.

C Waiting to Board
Security Kiosk
Security kiosks support law enforcement and security
presence at Stations, thus making moving and waiting
to board safer. Security kiosks allow for rapid response
time when enforcement is needed and provide a sense of
comfort for customers.
• Requires power and communication lines.
• Consider design methods to integrate kiosk into Station
in high visibility areas (e.g. fare gates, entrances).
• Integrate into building or stand-alone.
• Consider the number of staff needed at a kiosk to
ensure there is sufficient space.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Jurisdiction police authority
and/or transit operator security.
Local Precedent: RTD Union Station, Denver
Requires ongoing staff to operate or coordinate
with jurisdictional policing department.

Design Toolbox
Shade
Shade, provided by a transit shelter, street trees, or existing
buildings can reduce heat island effects and make waiting
more comfortable for customers. In instances where a
Sidewalk Stop location may have limited space available
for a transit shelter, trees are a viable alternative that can
take up less space and may be less expensive to maintain
over time. In addition to providing some protection from
sun, and light rain, trees help beautify sidewalks and
communities.
• Set back trees away from the curb to avoid
blocking buses and sight lines, as well as damage
by passing trucks or transit vehicles.
• Position trees to avoid blocking the clear zone,
sidewalk access, and commercial signage.
• Consider different tree species based on the
Local Precedent: Gold Line South Pasadena amount of shade can provide, ideal spacing,
Station, South Pasadena amount of leaf or blossom drop. Street trees often
provide more generous cover than canopies with
sun moving during the day.
• Avoid installing tree grates to prevent compaction
of soil surface that cause hazardous conditions for
the tree if the tree begins to outgrow the grate and
for pedestrians if the grates become lifted due to
roots.
• Use permeable material such as decomposed
granite for tree wells.
• Trees placement must comply with Metro’s Rail
Design Criteria at rail Stations.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or property owner.
Maintenance includes regular pruning, replacement,
maintenance of tree well surface and irrigation. Trees
require bubblers, or in some locations, an agreement
with adjacent property owner to assure trees are watered
adequately, especially during their initial few years.

C Waiting to Board
Shelter
Transit shelters improve the waiting experience by
protecting transit users from natural elements such as
rain, sun and wind. Shelters are an important amenities for
customers waiting in Southern California’s warm climate.
• Shelters should accommodate standing, seating or lean
bars, real-time information and lighting.
• A semi-transparent back screen provides a sense of
enclosure and can help block noise and wind.
• The framework of the shelter can also support
information such as system maps, district
information, bus schedules, integrated trash bins.
• Consider where ridership and waiting times
warrant them, wherever sidewalk space allows,
and where they can be maintained.
• Shelters can be an important identity element for
Local Precedent: Riverside, CA
transit system, specific line or district.
• Locate clear of curb and sidewalk pathways
to reduce conflicts.
• Requires a clear space within the shelter per ADA
requirements (2.5 ’x 4’ minimum).
• Avoid advertising that reduces sight lines.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Shelter owner/provider or vendor
contract. In some cases a private developer agreement may
include adjacent shelter if on their property.
Maintenance includes regular cleaning, graffiti removal,
repairs, trash removal and light replacement.

Design Toolbox
Sound Barriers
Sound barriers help reduce noise for elevated Stations and
Sidewalk Stops where traffic noise and vibration create an
unpleasant waiting environment. This design element
is particularly important for Stations along freeways.
New transit lines should avoid locating along freeways,
if possible.
• Should be transparent for customer safety and visibility.
• Install large objects, such a high-backed benches,
to help block noise from the freeway lanes.
• Installing enclosed shelters can reduce noise levels
by 7 or 8 decibels.
• Locate sound walls along the outside border of the
Station for the most effective reduction of noise,
with reductions of up to 13 decibels (Passenger
Exposure To Noise At Transit Platforms In
Los Angeles, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation,
Local Precedent: Silver Line 37th St Transitway July 2012).
Station along the I-110, LA
Level of Difficulty: Medium to High
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction, Caltrans or
transit agency. Installation must be coordinated
with the owner of the roadway or highway on
which the Sidewalk Stop is located.
Ticketing Machine
Ticketing machines shorten boarding times by allowing
transit users to purchase fares in advance. They should
be located conveniently along paths to transit platforms
or at Sidewalk Stops with high ridership. As technology
advances, current ticketing machines may be changed
or phased out over time.
• Provide at least 30” x 48” in front of the Ticket
Vending Machine.
• Provide 6’ minimum of queuing distance.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Transit operator.
Local Precedent: Red Line Universal City

Station, Los Angeles

C Waiting to Board
Trash & Recycling Receptacles

Providing trash receptacles is crucial for keeping the
Sidewalk Stops/Station boarding area clean and minimizing
litter on transit vehicles.
• Bolt down receptacles to avoid removal.
• If possible, avoid placing bins in direct sunlight to
minimize foul smells.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance needed so overflow
of receptacles does not deter from the
transfer experience.
Local Precedent: Santa Monica
WiFi
WiFi provides customers with Internet access to
information such as maps and schedules on their mobile
devices, which enhances decision making and the
experience while waiting to board.
• Provide on transit vehicles and at Stations.
• May be ad-based and therefore cost nothing to
the transit operator.
Maintenance
Responsible Entities: Local jurisdiction or
transit operator.
Usually owned and operated by a private entity
through a public-private agreement.
Local Precedent: Los Angeles City Hall

Design Toolbox
Strategies for
Narrow
Sidewalks &
Terminus
Stations
he narrow Sidewalk Stop efficiently provides customers with
seating, lean bars, shade trees, and Sidewalk Stop identification
and transit information integrated on a light pole (Sepulveda Blvd,
Sherman Oaks)
This section provides guidance for complex transit

conditions, including narrow sidewalks (defined as less
than 12 feet in width) and Terminus Stations, which
require a great deal of coordination between transit
operators for good circulation and space planning.
Precedent images and illustrative diagrams are included
to demonstrate best practices.
El Monte Station is the terminus of the Metro Silver Line and

provides connections to multiple transit operators and services.
(El Monte Station, El Monte)

NARROW SIDEWALKS
What are some challenges of How do I design the Sidewalk

? narrow sidewalks? ? Stop to improve transfers?
• Along a narrow sidewalk, competition for • Prioritize tools that are most necessary and
throughway space and boarding space limits the beneficial for pedestrians of all abilities per ADA.
size and scale of possible design tools. There must be space for people to pass through,
as well as space for them to wait for their next
• After accounting for street furnishings, light poles, vehicle.
utility boxes, trash receptacles, and signs, there is
• If feasible, separate customers and passing
limited space to improve transfers.
pedestrians. This may not be as practical where
bus Stops are busier and the volume of waiting
Who is vying for sidewalk
? space?
and queuing customers is higher.
• Extend the sidewalk with curb bulb-outs by
obtaining the adjacent street lane or parking
• Transit riders use Sidewalk Stops to queue, board, space(s) to create additional space for Sidewalk
alight, or wait for their transit vehicle. Stop amenities and reduce crowding.
• Transit riders walk along sidewalks to reach their • Place street furniture and shelters along the
next Sidewalk Stop or Station. curb line and oriented toward the sidewalk to
• Pedestrians walk along sidewalks to reach their consolidate the “boarding zone” and pedestrian
destinations. path, but only when safety and a clear path for
circulation is reserved. Furniture can become a
• Businesses use sidewalks for building entries,
barrier/hazard, depending on the location.
outdoor dining, displays, and overhanging
elements such as awnings or signs. • Reduce clutter by consolidating street furniture
such as sign poles, trash bins, and information on
shelters. Minimize the number of poles at shared
? What do I need to have at my

Sidewalk Stop?
bus Stops. Transit operators must coordinate the
placement of signs. Trash and recycling bins can
be a combined design to reduce the number of
• An unobstructed clear zone that is at least items on the sidewalk.
5 ft wide for customers to board and alight • Provide narrow shelters that have a limited
vehicles (or as current codes dictate). “footprint” or explore shelters without columns
• For a bus Sidewalk Stop: a landing area for (e.g. larger building overhang).
disabled customers measuring at least 5 ft parallel • Try lean bars if there is inadequate room for
to the street and 8 ft perpendicular to the street shelters or standard seating.
at the front of bus to meet ADA requirements for
• Select appropriate species of trees, if space
boarding and alighting, and at least 10 ft parallel
allows, and use for shade if narrow shelters
to the street and 8 ft perpendicular to the street at
won’t fit.
the back of the door.
• Use hard surfaces (e.g. grates, decomposed
• Stop pole and sign(s) with a minimum 7 ft
granite) for tree planter, so pedestrians can walk
overhead clearance.
on this area.
• Coordinate lighting with existing street lighting to
reduce poles along the sidewalk.

Design Toolbox
There is no zone separating the There are two distinct zones: the Specially designed shelters have a small
Sidewalk Stop and throughway Sidewalk Stop and a throughway for footprint and serve as Sidewalk Stop
(Westwood, LA) passing pedestrians (Westwood, LA) identifiers (Santa Monica)
The Sidewalk Stop does not provide Where space for shelters and seating is Narrow shelters can integrate flip
customers with seating or shelter limited, smaller shelters and lean bars seating” and still separate the
(Alameda St, LA) are good alternatives (Westwood, LA) customers from passing pedestrians
(San Bernardino)
Multiple sign/operator poles clutter the Multiple transit operators coordinated Clear, consolidated signage reduces
Sidewalk Stop (Downtown LA) to place all their information on one sidewalk clutter and minimizes
shared pole (Artesia Station, LA) confusion for customers (Downtown LA)

Constrained/Narrow Sidewalk (10 ft wide) with Bus Stop
G L
I
K
F
D E
A H 10’
5’ C
40’ B 11’
A. Red Curb Bus Zone. 40 – 60 ft red curb length K. Wayfinding. Placed on lighting to direct customers
(40 ft for standard bus, 60 ft for articulated bus, to transfers.
measured 5 ft from crosswalk).
L. Transit Info. Businesses adjacent to transfer
B. Concrete Bus Pad. 11 ft wide concrete pad in travel zones are encouraged to display real-time transit
lane at bus Stop to support weight of buses and information in the shopfront window. Transit
reduce wear and tear on pavement. customers are more likely to patronize businesses
when they know when the next bus/train arrives.
C. Clear Zone. Unobstructed path to access bus
(5 ft preferred as measured from curb face to street
furniture, or other vertical obstructions).
D. Accessible (ADA) Landing Area. Unobstructed area

(8 ft x 5 ft) for wheelchair accessibility.
E. Clear Path. Pedestrian path along sidewalk,

between buildings and street furnishing zone (4’-2”
minimum, 5 ft+ preferred).
F. Lean Bar. Provides support for customers while

waiting in constrained area.
G. Bus Pole with Sign. 7 ft overhead clearance needed

from sidewalk surface to bottom edge of sign blade.
H. Street Trees. Planted in a hard even surface (e.g.
grate, decomposed granite) around transfer area.
I. Transparent Building Frontages. Provide natural

Narrow Sidewalks For conditions where the sidewalk is very
surveillance for waiting transit customers.
constrained (<10 ft in width), slender shelters and/or street
J. Awnings. Provide shade and rain protection in furnishings may be placed near (within one foot) from the curb
constrained transfer area. line to consolidate the boarding area (C, above) and clear path
(E, above) into a single unobstructed area for circulation and
waiting. (London, UK)

Design Toolbox
Generous Sidewalk (15+ ft wide) with High Bus Activity
K
15’
J L
H
11’
F
A
I
D G
E
C
120’
A. Red Curb Bus Zone. 80 – 120 ft red curb length G. Maps, Wayfinding & WiFi. Integrated into bus
(40 ft for standard bus, 60 ft for articulated bus) shelter to aid transfer decisions.
to accommodate two buses, set back 5 ft from
crosswalk. See “constrained” diagram. H. Bus Pole with Sign. 7 ft overhead clearance needed
from sidewalk surface to bottom edge of sign blade.
B. Concrete Bus Pad. 11 ft wide concrete pad in travel
lane at bus Stop to support weight of buses and I. Street Trees. Planted in a hard even surface (e.g.
reduce wear and tear on pavement. grate, decomposed granite) around transit area.
C. Clear Zone. Unobstructed path to access bus J. Pedestrian-scale Lighting. Around transit area.
(5 ft preferred as measured from curb face to street K. Transparent Building Frontages. Provide natural
furniture, or other vertical obstructions). surveillance for waiting transit customers.
D. Accessible (ADA) Landing Area. Unobstructed area L. Transit Info. Businesses adjacent to busy transfer
(8 ft x 5 ft) for wheelchair accessibility. zones are encouraged to display real time transit
E. Clear Path. Pedestrian path along sidewalk, information in the shopfront window. Passengers
between buildings and street furnishing zone (4’-2” are more likely to patronize businesses when they
minimum, 5 ft+ preferred). know when the next bus/train arrives.
F. Bus Shelter. Provides shade, seating, real-time

arrival information, and trash receptacle. Provide a
clear space within the shelter per ADA requirements
(2.5’ x 4’ minimum).

TERMINUS STATIONS
Terminus Stations typically have the largest footprint What are typical
of transfer Stations and involve connections between
multiple operators and a variety of modes (e.g. car
share, bike share, shuttles, etc). They often offer a variety
? programming needs?
Major Transit Infrastructure
of amenities for customers (e.g. transit parking, bicycle
storage, customer service, etc). • Tail (turnaround) rail tracks
• Rail-car storage and/or maintenance yard
What are some challenges of • Multiple bus bays and layover space
? Terminus Stations? • Commuter parking
• Passenger pick-up/drop-off
• Balancing spatial needs for different modes of transit
(e.g. rail, bus, bike, parking). • Large bicycle storage/repair center
• Accommodating large maintenance facilities (e.g. • Safe pedestrian pathways to neighborhood
turn-back tracks, rail-car storage, bus layover zones). • Safe bike facilities connecting to Station
• Designing intuitive navigation through large sites • Carshare/car rental
with long walking distances. • Power substation
• Coordinating different design needs (e.g. branding, Primary Passenger Needs
signage, payment systems) for various operators.
• Payment/ticketing
• Reducing conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles
• Customer information/security
with high pick-up/drop-off activity.
• Wayfinding and transit information
• Integrating Terminus Stations into the urban fabric
of the community with safe and direct pedestrian and • Circulation/transfer area
bicycle connections to the Station to reduce auto trips. • Shade/shelter for waiting area
• Planning for future (e.g. terminus becomes mid-line • Restrooms
Station, commuter lots are replaced by development). • Convenience retail (food/beverage)
• WiFi/cell service
? Who is vying for space?
What should be considered for
• Metro rail and bus ? the future?
• Regional rail providers (e.g. Metrolink, Amtrak) • Design signage to be flexible (i.e. digital) for
• Local and regional bus operators changing transit service patterns and operators.
• Neighborhood shuttles • Reserve footprint for anticipated future uses or
transit growth (e.g. bus bays, waiting areas, retail).
• Employer shuttles
• Include knock-out panels in design of underground
• Car-share/car rental Stations to allow for future entrances.
• Commuter parking • Build surface parking lots rather than parking
• Long-term bicycle facilities structures to allow land to be “banked” for future
• Passenger pick-up/drop-off transit-supportive uses. If parking structures are
necessary, design structures with helix ramps and
• Customer service/ticketing center level parking floors could be adapted to other uses,
• Retail/convenience services should demand change over time.
• Development • Program adjacent development with transit-
supportive uses to reduce auto-use and support
transit ridership.

Design Toolbox
Lack of shade for waiting area Supergraphics show bus bays Wayfinding between rail Station and bus
(North Hollywood Bus Stop) (Harbor Gateway) area (Palmdale Metrolink Station)
X X
Bus layover zone sign looks similar to bus Metro logo is out of date. Budget Wayfinding signage directing customers
Stop sign, which could be confusing to ongoing maintenance to ensure design to other transit operators
customers is current at transit facilities.
Customer service kiosk within train Public library kiosk Integrated ticketing and customer service
Station waiting area (Anaheim ARTIC Station) kiosk (Anaheim ARTIC Station)

Photo Credits
The majority of photos in this Guide were taken by Metro or Cityworks Design. In instances where photos were sourced
outside Metro or Cityworks Design, photo credit is given below:
p. 18 The Transport for London Interchange Best Practices Guidelines

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/urban-planning-and-construction/interchange
p. 30 Portland Transit Mall

Photo by Alice Webb, https://landperspectives.com
p. 34 Cleveland Median Station

Photo by Jerry Masek, Greater Cleveland RTA, http://www.riderta.com/
p. 47 Paris Bus Shelter

Photo by Metalco, http://www.metalco.it/?lang=en
p. 56 Bus Shelter with Advertising in West Hollywood

Photo by JCDecaux, http://www.jcdecaux.com/
p. 69 Fare Gates in Sanchong Station, Taipei, Taiwan

Photo by MiNe (sfmine79), https://www.flickr.com/photos/sfmine79/33564791022/
p. 77 LADOT Bus Platform

Photo by LADOT Bike Blog
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ladotbikeblog/27636604021/in/album-72157669843712455/
p. 79 Green Line Hawthorne/Lennox Station

Photo by Google Earth Pro
p. 80 Hollywood/Highland Scramble Crosswalk

Photo by LA Great Streets, www.lagreatstreets.org
p. 87 Riverside Bus Shelter

Photo by Riverside Transit Agency, https://www.riversidetransit.com/index.php/riding-the-bus/rapidlink
p. 92 San Bernardino sbX Shelter

Photo by Omnitrans, http://www.omnitrans.org/
METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE | MARCH 2018

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Transfers Design Guide

Improving Connections for a Seamless Trip

i METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE ii

Making transfers safe, easy and

Metro’s existing design standards for transit

3 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

This Transfers Design Guide builds upon Metro’s

This Guide intends to elevate the transfer

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 4

5 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

Who Should Use This Guide? What Do We Mean by a Transfer?

Developers and/Property Owners

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 6

Private Property Public ROW Public ROW Metro Property

7 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

Who Owns the Transfer Zone?

• Metro and other local transit operators

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 8

Safety and Security Above all, the transit journey should

Efficiency relates to the rider’s path between

Accessibility addresses an unobstructed path and

Clarity relates to clear information and wayfinding,

Comfort addresses the quality of the overall transit

Consistency relates to reliable elements at each stop or

Importance of Safety & Security

1 Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2008-2015 Quality

9 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

Maintenance and Operations

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 10

Expansive & Diverse Transit Environment. Metro’s bus

Jurisdictional Coordination. Multiple parties “own” and

11 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

operators provide services within LA County and each

Limited Space. Many transfers occur along city

Inaccessible Transit Environment. Narrow pathways,

Maintenance. Transit infrastructure must stand up

Limited Resources. Obtaining money for public

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 12

To inform transfer improvements, this Guide offers:

13 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

Applications Strategies (see pages 51 – 56) provides a

1. Inform current and future Metro projects to prioritize

Waiting to Board Riders at a light rail Station waiting to

Moving Riders moving between two Stations (Red/Orange

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 14

& What Doesn’t Within Metro

Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation encourages

Transfers Design Guide

17 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

What Did We Learn

In particular, the Transport for London Interchange Best

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 18

1 – 100 301 – 400 Metro BRT/Rail Line (Existing)

101 – 200 400+ Metro Bus Stop (Existing)

19 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE MARCH 2018

What Did We Learn from What Did We Learn

MARCH 2018 METRO TRANSFERS DESIGN GUIDE 20

1. Sepulveda / Ventura (bus-to-bus) 12. Culver City Station (bus-to-rail)