Transit
Centers
The transit center
would have
four express gates for buses. There would also be 6 or 7 smaller gates
for
circulator routes.
These would have
bays
big enough for vans and minibuses. Gates would have seating.
The central hall
would also
have seats along with ride request
terminals and destination and gate displays.
Riders enter a gate by paying
fare with a magnetic ticket at a turnstile.
Up to 70 riders, wishing to go to a distant
TC, can collect at a gate within three minutes.
They then board a bus, without paying fare,
in under a minute as on a subway.
The
Image below shows a rider in a wheel chair leaving a taxi van
on the left, then rolling across the transit center and rolling onto a
bus on the right.
The taxi van gate is level with the floor of the van and the bus gate
is level with the floor of the bus. The roof overhangs both van and bus
to keep riders dry.
Fare
Collection
Fares are NOT collected by circulator
buses.
Riders board quickly through both doors without having to stop to pay
fare.
Fares are paid to enter the TC and to enter gates within the TC. To
enter a TC,
or gate, riders would use their RFID card (Radio Frequency
Identification).
Their accounts would be billed.When a taxi-van picks up a small group
they
would prove they are the ones who reserved the ride by using their RFID
cards
or by giving their names. Taxi drivers and riders do not have to carry
cash.
A TC
would differ from a conventional park and ride stop in several ways :
1. A high volume of riders, about
2000, will
pass through a TC each morning. The large volume insures that each
express bus
can pick up many riders at each TC stop.
2. Airport-like amenities such as air
conditioning, cushioned seats, and security guards would be provided.
The TC
will be
a comfortable and secure place to wait for a ride. Since 2000 use a TC
each
work day, the facilities cost per rider is low.
3. Demand Responsive Service (DRS)
will be
provided by a dispatcher.
The
1. A
secure room for private bicycles
will
protect bikes from theft. A large room will hold many bikes locked to
frames. A
rider would need an access card to enter the room.
2. Automated
rental devices for
rental
bicycles or mopeds will enable arriving bus riders to go a mile
or two
to their
final destination.
3. Car
Share Organizations [1] could
provide
cars available for hourly rental near the TC. Riders would be able to
rent a
car a few hours a week for shopping trips or other errand trips. If
they can
get to work by bus and shop by using rental cars then they don’t need
to
own a car.
4. A
shopping center with a grocery
store
should be nearby.
5. A Community Center
could be within a block of the TC. The community center
would host day care, after school care for elementary and middle school
students, recreational facilities for teens and a game room senior
citizens. Low income seniors, or those who are just no longer able to
drive, could congregate at the game room to play bingo or cards. Teens
from surrounding neighborhoods could meet at the "teen club" to play
basketball or foosball. Child care services would make a
morning , and afternoon, commute much easier for a single parent. Lack
of
coordination between day care and public transit is a known issue in LA
:
“The
pool of potential jobs is further reduced for transit-dependent workers
who
need child-care services. Transportation lines don't necessarily run
near
available child-care providers, and even if they do, any task that
involves
leaving the bus and later boarding another one adds significantly to
the time
to make the journey,
[1] CSOs in US have 50,000 members.
Members
are pre-approved to rent cars from the CSO on an hourly basis.
[2] See article from LA Times in
chapter on
Potential Ridership.
