I looked at the recommended Tunneys Pasture Station and I'm confused:
From what I see, buses from the Western Transitway do not have an option as to where they go; there is a single path (two lanes in each direction) from the new Transitway ramp (the trench will be partly back-filled) to the exit/entrance at the top-right of the bus area. There is a fence between the lanes and no opportunity to loop around the island.
So a bus coming from the west will drop off passengers at the narrow platform along the edge of the trench and then exit onto Yarrow. If the bus is to go into Lay-up, it turns left onto Yarrow, and then left again into the lay-up area: If it is simply to turn around and head west again, it turns right onto Yarrow, right onto Holland, right onto Scott, right onto the transit bridge, left onto the west-bound lanes, picks up passengers from the island and then down the ramp to the Transitway: If the bus is continuing east, it turns right onto Yarrow, right onto Holland, then left onto Scott.
Buses from the lay-up will enter service by turning into the east-bound lanes as if they have just come up the ramp.
The island needs to be wide to accommodate stairs/escalator/elevator down to an underground tunnel which leads to the train platforms. I am assuming that this below grade crossing will also need to be below the grade of the tracks so people won't need to cross the tracks. Would people like the idea of going down 10 metres underground, or would they rather cross above grade? (I understand that there is a LARGE box culvert under the Transitway so an underpass might not be possible.)
Well, that is what I've figured out so far; the rest I need help with:
The bus facilities appear to be set up for a number of purposes; first, to provide a linear, side platform, bus station along the Transitway; second, to direct buses onto and off of Scott via Holland and the transit bridge; and third, to provide a large bus lay-up area for a small number of buses.
Why is the station designed to facilitate buses continuing east? Is it true that most western buses will continue towards downtown?
Why can't buses simply loop around the island and stay off the road system? Why is the north side of the island not used for pickup/drop-off at all?
Do we really need an underground tunnel, or would a cross-walk from the right side of the island to the existing pedestrian overpass work as well? Maybe a cross-walk at the transit bridge? How are passengers to get to the island if they don't take the tunnel?
Does the Lay-up area look to be a VERY inefficient layout? Do we need all of this area to park buses on?
Should the train platforms be shifted west, starting from the existing pedestrian overpass, so that the new building planned by Public Works can be integrated with the station? The new building was to go where the lay-up area is. Maybe the new building could extend over the train to provide access to both side platforms.
Since this is an interim measure, would you suggest any modifications or alternatives?
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