Station & Stop Principles Transit stops are the first and last interactions riders have with transit—they introduce passengers to the service and guide them through the entire trip. Transit stops can enable more and better transit trips for all users while enhancing the full Read More
Stop Design Factors The success of a transit system depends in large part on how well on-street platforms respond to the design needs of people riding and operating transit, and how well they work with the design of transit vehicles themselves. Read More
Stop Placement & Intersection Configuration Transit stops must be positioned and integrated into intersections based on contextual considerations and goals for transit and street operations. Where the transit stop is configured plays a significant role in how effectively it operates. Read More
Platform Length Transit platform length is determined by rider capacity, pedestrian conditions, accessibility considerations, and transit operator needs. Allowing transit to stop in-lane unlocks distance along the curb, promotes accessibility, and often has little impact on general traffic conditions. Read More
Platform Height Platform height affects ease of boarding; raised platforms enable easier, more accessible passenger boarding and alighting by decreasing step-down distance and gap between vehicle floor and platform. Read More
Accessible Paths & Slopes Designs that provide universal accessibility at stops and stations not only increase the equity of transit systems, but also reduce operational costs. Read More
Universal Design Elements Universal design features are critical throughout the transportation network, making it possible for any street user to comfortably and conveniently reach every transit stop. Employ tactile, visual, and audible design elements together to guide people of all abilities through the Read More
Stop Configurations While stop location determines to a large extent how transit vehicles approach stops and interact with traffic, the physical configuration of stops and stations impact how riders interact with the transit system. Read More
Boarding Bulb Stop Boarding bulb stops use curb extensions to enable side-running transit vehicles to stop in lane, improving transit speed and reliability, and creating space for waiting passengers, furnishings, and other amenities. Read More
Side Boarding Island Stop Side boarding islands are dedicated boarding areas for passengers that eliminate bike-transit conflicts, streamline service by enabling in-lane stops, and improve accessibility with level or near-level boarding platforms. Read More
Shared Cycle Track Stop Shared cycle track stops—where bikeway rise and run along the boarding area rather than wrapping behind—are an important retrofit option for constrained transit streets with in-lane stops, especially of streetcars, if a boarding island configuration does not fit in either Read More
Curbside Pull-Out Stop Curbside pull-out stops are a low-cost option for bus stops on streets with curbside parking. While bus transition time is longer than for in-lane designs, it is relatively easy to make these stops accessible, provided sidewalks are sufficiently wide. Read More
In-Lane Sidewalk Stop Where transit vehicles run adjacent to the curb, passengers board and alight directly from the sidewalk. Curbside stops are also often observed in dedicated transit lanes, where pulling out of traffic is unnecessary. Read More
In-Street Boarding Island Stop In-street boarding islands create in-lane stops, giving streetcars and buses priority within the street while allocating space for through-moving vehicles. In-street islands call for careful accommodation and management of pedestrian access to the boarding platform. Read More
Median Stop, Right-Side Boarding Where transit runs along a wide median separating travel directions, center-median stops highlight and give brand identity to transit service. Right-side boarding platforms are interoperable with standard buses and higher capacity transit vehicles. Read More
Median Stop, Left-Side Boarding Center-median stops and stations offer the highest level of comfort and visibility for high-frequency and high-volume transit routes. Combined platforms deliver efficient service, with passengers boarding through doors on the left side of transit vehicles. Read More
On-Street Terminal On-street terminals serving many routes can increase capacity and reduce transit vehicle congestion where multiple routes converge. By grouping routes and spacing stops in a skip-stop configuration, passenger boardings can be dispersed, easing pedestrian congestion. Read More