Transit agencies develop design standards or guidelines for transit stops, stations, and terminals that vary in content and level of detail. These standards are often included in documents that also provide guidance for other aspects of the transit system, such as guideways, maintenance facilities, and vehicles. However, these diverse standards have never been systematically compiled, compared, and summarized.

TCRP Research Results Digest 127: Review of Transit Station Design Guidelines, produced by TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program, compiles station dimensional guidance from multiple transit agency design manuals. The digest identifies eight key criteria common to many station design guides: level-of-service standards; runoffs at stairs and escalators; provision of stairs, escalators, and elevators; stair width; escalator width and speed; elevator queuing space; platform width or area; and platform edge clearance. The digest describes the measures identified for each of these eight criteria and discusses important considerations, particularly where guidance varies or provides nuanced recommendations across agencies. The digest summarizes one of 12 small research tasks conducted to support the development of new content for the Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, Fourth Edition.

Infrastructure Assets: Transit Assets
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Performance Based Planning & Programming