TCQS Manual Part 7:

Stop, Station, and Terminal Capacity

George Mason University
CEIE 460/560
Public Transportation Systems
Fall 2007
M.S. Bronzini/M.G. Goode

Topics
Types of stops, terminals, stations
Procedures to evaluate passenger
circulation
ADA requirements

Procedures to size passenger areas

based on maintaining a desirable pedestrian
level of service

Types of Facilities
Bus stops
Transit centers

multiple bus routes converge, offering transfers between lines

intermodal stations
combine local bus services with other transit services, intercity bus
or rail
provide associated services such as taxi stands, concessions, ticket
sales.

Busway stations
Light rail stations

typically 180 to 400 ft (55 to 120 m) long

Heavy rail stations

always have high-level platforms.

Typically 600 to 800 ft (180 to 240 m) long

Commuter rail stations

Ferry docks and terminals
Intermodal terminals

Passenger Circulation and

Level of Service

Pedestrian Capacity Terminology

Pedestrian capacity: the maximum number of
people who can occupy or pass through a
pedestrian facility or element, expressed as
persons per unit of area or as persons per unit
of time.
Maximum capacity
Design capacity

Pedestrian flow rate: number of pedestrians

passing a point per unit of time, expressed as
persons per minute, 15 minutes, or other time
period.

Pedestrian Capacity Terminology

Pedestrian flow per unit width: average flow of
pedestrians per unit of effective walkway width,
expressed as persons per inch, foot, or meter
per minute.
Pedestrian density: average number of persons
per unit of area
Pedestrian space: average area used by or
provided for each pedestrian in a walkway or
queuing area, expressed in terms of square feet
or meters per pedestrian.
Inverse of density

Principles of Pedestrian Flow

v=SD

Equation 7-1

v = pedestrian flow per unit width (p/ft/min, p/m/min);

S = pedestrian speed (ft/min, m/min); and
D = pedestrian density (p/ft2, p/m2).
v=S/M

Equation 7-2

v = pedestrian flow per unit width (p/ft/min, p/m/min);

S = pedestrian speed (ft/min, m/min); and
M = pedestrian space (ft2/p, m2/p), adjusted as appropriate for
pedestrian characteristics

Density is the most significant factor

influencing pedestrian walking speed.

Exhibit 7-1 Pedestrian Speed on Walkways

Exhibit 7-2 Pedestrian Flow on Walkways by Unit

Width and Space

Exhibit 7-4 Illustration of Walkway Levels of Service

Exhibit 7-4 Illustration of Walkway Levels of Service

Exhibit 7-3 Pedestrian Level of Service on Walkways

Manual also provides similar data for stairways.

Exhibit 7-8 Levels of Service for Queuing Areas

Exhibit 7-9 Illustration of Queuing Area Level of Service

Access for Persons with Disabilities

The ADA requires all new transit stations in the
United States to be accessible to persons with
disabilities.
Also requires that key stations in existing
systems be made accessible and that major
remodeling of any station incorporate accessible
features.
Specific regulations relating to transit stations,
including provision of accessible routes,
appropriate architectural features, and
accessible communications elements and
features are contained in the Architectural
Barriers Act of 1999.

Emergency Evacuation
NFPA 130 (2000 edition)
Evacuate occupants (including those on trains)
from platforms in 4 minutes or less
Evacuation from the most remote point on a
platform to a point of safety in 6.0 min or less
A second means of egress at least 44 in. (1.12
m) wide and remote from the major egress route
Maximum distance to an exit from any point on a
platform shall be not more than 300 ft (91.4 m)
Escalators shall not provide more than half of
the exit capacity from any level and one
escalator, resulting in the most adverse exiting
condition, shall be assumed to be out of service
and unavailable for egress.

Security

Law enforcement personnel

Video cameras
Emergency call boxes
Visibility
Lighting
Presence of other people

Platform Exit Capacity

Equation 7-5

Equation 7-6

CHAPTER 4.
STATION ELEMENTS AND
THEIR CAPACITIES

Exhibit 7-16 Transit Platform

Areas

Exhibit 7-17 Observed Average

Doorway Headway and Capacity

The LOS criteria used for evaluating doorways are the

same as those used for evaluating walkways (see
Exhibit 7-3).

Exhibit 7-20 Nominal Escalator

Capacity Values

These values represent a step utilization of 1

person every other step on a 24-in. (0.6-m)
wide escalator and one person per step (or two
people every second step) on a 40-in. (1.1-m)
wide escalator.

Exhibit 7-23 Fare Gate Examples

Exhibit 7-24 Observed Average Fare Gate

Headways and Capacities