The Evolution of Public Transportation and The Creation of The Mobility Hub
Alex Ross Professor Ronaszegi Graduate Seminar in Architecture - ARCH 745 -1
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Table of Contents
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page... 7
-Thesis Proposal
page... 7
page…13
-List of Illustrations
page…13
-The Evolution of Transportation page…16
and The Creation of The Mobility Hub
page…16
page... 17
-Early Transportation Methods
page... 17
page... 17
-The Creation of a Transportation Problem
page... 17
page... 19
-Transportation Networks
page... 19
page... 21
-Walking
page... 21
page... 22
-Bicycles
page... 22
page... 24
-The Automobile
page... 24
page... 25
-Problems with the Automobile
page... 25
page...27
-Public Transportation Infrastructure
page...27
page...28
-The Mobility Hub
page...28
page...29
-Aesthetics in Transportation Design
page...29
page...31
-Light Rail systems
page...31
page...32
-Conclusion
page...32
page…35
A New Architectural Typology; The Transit Facility
page…35
page… 36
Transport Architecture
page… 36
page… 37
Evolution of Typology
page… 37
page… 37
British Transportation Architecture
page… 37
page… 39
Elements of Transport Architecture
page… 39
page… 40
Evolution of Railed Modes of Transportation
page… 40
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The Maglev Train
page… 41
Tackling the Design Challenge
page… 44
Liege-Guillemins Station
page… 45
Atocha Station
page… 46
Transbay Terminal
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Grand Central Station
page… 48
In Conclusion
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-Design Method Case Study
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-Santiago Calatrava
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-Concept Diagrams
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-Bibliography
page…62
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Thesis Proposal
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Thesis Intent Statement:
rban center of
-The intent of this thesis is to improve the character of the down-town urban center of
r types of public
Raleigh, NC with the design of a transportation hub which includes other types of public
onal experience,
amenities. The center will act as an urban tool that brings together personal experience,
rounding area.
recreation, transportation, interaction, and landscaping to engage the surrounding area.
create the
The intent is for this central hub to act as a connector and to support and create the
duce a series of
opportunity for social and physical improvement. This thesis will introduce a series of
nding
spaces that present the opportunity for people from all around the surrounding
ing their daily
community to use and enjoy as they are commuting through the city during their daily
y commutes, this
activities. By creating an enjoyable route for people to use for their daily commutes, this
to give the urban
design will help promote social, physical, and emotional health and help to give the urban center an identity.
Location: Raleigh, NC Building Type: Transportation Station
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Significance of Study:
-Raleigh, North Carolina is a growing city with a dense urban core and surrounded by urban sprawl which creates a very busy and inefficient transportation infrastructure. The lack of an efficient public transportation system in the downtown area creates a disconnect between different areas of the city. The introduction of a functional downtown transportation hub will aid in creating a truly inspiring and worthwhile downtown commute that is accessible to more people and will inspire them to take a second from their daily lives to enjoy themselves and take part in the other various opportunities that the center provides. This will activate the downtown area creating a more social place and will act as a node for cultural, social, and economic growth for the area.
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Methods of Inquiry:
Examination of the city grid and urban fabric of Raleigh, NC:
ns will aid in the
The investigation into the way the city currently functions will aid in the design of a piece of architecture that can improve the functionality of the area.
e area.
Efficient Light Rail transportation systems:
ils will aid in the
The investigation of the most efficient system of light rails will aid in the
of locals as well
design of a place a transportation hub that works for the daily commute of locals as well
infrastructure.
tourists that can also promote various opportunities to enjoy the public infrastructure.
Urban Design methods:
an centers will aid
The investigation into the most successful design of urban centers will aid in designing a center that can best engage the community and promote social and
social and
economic growth for the area.
Methods of engaging public spaces:
ing and the most
es and public
The investigation into what elements are the most engaging and the most efficient transportation hub which promotes the usage of its public spaces and public amenities will assist in designing an engaging public space.
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Methods of providing recreation opportunities in a dense urban center: The investigation into various recreational sports and various spaces will act to encourage public and social well-being which will aid to activate the area and improve the lives of people who live downtown.
Expected Outcome:
-The expected outcome is to create Architecture that will engage the city core of Raleigh, NC by introducing a transportation hub that includes many other public services and amenities. This will act to connect the downtown area with the rest of the city with a transportation hub that provides opportunities to other public amenities to be taken advantage of. These extra public elements will act to create a spark of involvement and excitement from the community to act to revive and improve the social and economic health of the downtown area.
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List of Illustrations:
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-Image 1: http-//www.in.gov/history/images/draisine (Accessed 10-23-13)
el (Accessed 10-
-Image 2: http-//orbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/The-High-Wheel (Accessed 1023-13) -Image 3: http-
M.1130_el
//www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/icons_of_invention/img/IM.1130_el (Accessed 10-22-13)
Accessed 10-21-
-Image 4: http-//www.otak.com/images/project/84/TacomaLRTransit5 (Accessed 10-2113) -Image 5: http-//thesource.metro.net/2011/02/03/why-you-ride-or-dont-thursday-
ursday-
roundup-2-2/ (Accessed 10-21-13)
sed 11/14/13)
-Image 6: http://trainweb.org/crocon/goodenow/GNR_Kings2.jpg (Accessed 11/14/13)
essed 11/14/13)
-Image 7: http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CLC/cnr2141.jpg (Accessed 11/14/13)
ssed 11/14/13)
-Image 8: http://www.mishanghai.org/Sites/files/640*512/file_118 (Accessed 11/14/13)
007/10/10
-Image 9: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2007/10/10 /PRT_system.400.276 (Accessed 11/14/13).
emins_station
-Image 10: http://mphasisdesign.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/liege_guillemins_station _tf161010 (Accessed 11/14/13).
Station.jpg
-Image 11:http://staycay.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Grand-Central-Station.jpg (Accessed 11/14/13).
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-Image 12: http://imgs.abduzeedo.com/files/archi/calatrava/calatrava (Accessed 11/20/13) -Image 12: http:/ -Image 13: http://www.wtc.com/media/images/r/8_67_Terminal-Street-Level-2 -Image 13: http-/ (Accessed 11/20/13) 13) -Image 14: http://images.worldofapple.com/2011/02/The-Grand-Central-Station -Image 14: http:/ (Accessed 11/20/13) (Accessed -Image 15: http://www.parsons.com/SiteCollectionImages/content/09-12-wtc-path-station -Image 15: http:/ (Accessed 11/20/13) (Accessed
-Image 16: http:/
(Accessed
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The Evolution of Transportation and the Creation of the Mobility Hub
Abstract: This paper aims to explain the evolution of transportation from walking, as the earliest known, to wheeled modes of transporting goods and people such as horse pulled carriages. It also talks about the invention of the automobile as one of the largest developments in the evolution of transportation; however it has created many disadvantages inside large city centers which have begun to outweigh these advantages. Finally, this has created the need for public transportation, which has tried to alleviate the pressure caused by the steadily growing dependence on automobiles. This evolution in public transportation facilities eventually lead to an all-inclusive building that serves all modes of transportation equally named the ‘Mobility Hub’.
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Early Transportation Methods Early methods of transportation relied on foot or draft animals such as oxen and horses that pulled wheeled carts, wagons, or chariots. Throughout history, for thousands of years, early humans walked for transportation because they had no other option. This went on until the invention of wheeled modes of transportation which in turn gave way to the use of oxen and horses as draft animal to pull wheeled carts, like the horse and buggy, to transport people and goods in and out of cities. Transportation evolved from such primitive methods to the invention of the modern day bicycle which revolutionized the transportation industry, and is still today the most efficient mode of transportation. The invention of the automobile at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century was a major development in the available modes of transportation and quickly grew to be the most widely used around the world.
The Creation of a Transportation Problem Today the list of available modes of transportation has grown (and continues to grow) to include the car, bicycle, skateboard, moped, motorcycle, bus, streetcar, and light rail. Although the list of available modes of transportation is long, the dominate transportation type in the US has emerged as the automobile and the truck. The landscape
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throughout cities is covered with roads to give drivers of automobiles the freedom to travel anywhere at any time. This heavy reliance on trucks and automobiles for transportation has created a vast number of problems in cities such as traffic issues, negative environmental impacts such as air pollution and the contribution to the diminishing oil reserves, as well as the ruination and movement away from other modes of transportation 1. There have been several developments in these modes of transportation that can help alleviate or displace our reliance on the automobile. 2 These modes include the light rail systems and public transportation networks designed on a city wide scale. Research shows that the best way to activate a city and alleviate its transportation issues, such as congestion and gridlock in city centers, is to establish an efficient and effective public transportation system that includes a light rail system coupled with accessible walking, cycling public infrastructure. “Public transportation is an essential part of a balanced transportation system that includes walkways, bicycle paths, air service and roads. Each day, the option to ride public transportation allows Americans to make transportation choices that improve their quality of life by shortening commute time,
1 2
Stone, 1. Grava, XV.
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avoiding stressful driving situations, and increasing the amount of time they spend with family and friends.� 3
Transportation Networks The design of a transportation system that is equitable to everyone, integrates all modes of transportation, employs thoughtful design of the various elements that go into a public transportation network, can create a solution to our over-reliance on automobiles. “Increasing access to public transportation is clearly the best route to a stable, healthy and strong America, and residents in urban, suburban and rural areas alike need expanded and enhanced services. In the last decade the public transportation industry made great strides in serving more Americans, but there inevitably will be changes ahead.� 4 The desire for immediate, independent modes of transportation has created cities for which the automobile was never designed for which has contributed to congestion and gridlock as well as many social problems such as the inability of lower classes to move freely throughout the city. The great number of transportation choices available to people have, over time, created a breakdown in the organization of social class status through association with various 3 4
Wortman, 4. Ibid, 8. Ross 19
modes of transport. The impact of our over dependence on automobiles, exclusively, helps explain why some modes are more popular than others. The more affluent a person, the more expensive and luxurious the modes of transportation they can choose to drive, and these tend to be more catered to the individual to give them the best commuting experience. These more affluent people can afford to drive daily and park their vehicles in inner cities where as lower class people don’t have the resources to enjoy this freedom of movement so they tend to rely more on public transportation. Driving can be more pleasant, flexible, fulfilling, and conditioned for the individual as its primary function is to take care of your personal transportation needs. Public transportation systems run on a set schedule and cater, not to the individual, but rather to an entire community. Over the years it has become apparent in most large cities that it is not possible for everyone to have their own personal mode of transportation in the form of an automobile; the infrastructure of cities, such as the interstate systems and parking lots, cannot handle the loads that this would put on them. This means that instead of relying on automobiles for our daily commute, communities need to have a large number of reliable, efficient, and enjoyable modes of transportation readily available to a larger number of people in the community, especially lower classes who don’t have access to them. Ross 20
Walking Walking as a mode of transportation has eroded to become an option that people reserve for their last resort. Most people only walk a small distance at the beginning of their trip and a small distance at the end. This is usually only to get to and from their car and to their final destination. The act of walking as a mode of transportation was not always people’s last choice, as it is today. For thousands of years, before the invention of the automobile, walking as a mode of transportation was the only option and therefore cities were designed, or developed naturally through organic growth, at a walkable-scale for the human to be accessed by foot. This meant that the various elements of a city were designed in a way that catered to the pedestrian such as the design of roads where only pedestrians were allowed to walk. Cities such as Rome and London were designed this way with the pedestrian in mind. Wheeled modes of transportation, however, began to grow in popularity quickly and were made possible by the domestication of animals such as the horse and oxen that pulled buggies and carts to transport people and goods. These wheeled modes of transportation via animals became more popular than walking because they were faster, more efficient, and could carry more goods. This shift from
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walking to using other modes of transportation began creating congestion issues inside the city such as through the streets which were not designed for these other usages. Eventually these wheeled modes of transport overpowered the alternatives as time passed, and the pedestrian was considered less and less in the design of the various city transportation networks. The percentage of people who walk to work has dropped dramatically in the years since the rise of the automobile from 9.9% of people walking to work in 1960 to 3.1% of people in 1999. 5 In Western Europe the people of the community see walking and cycling as “efficient, healthful, and natural� and rather than driving they choose these modes of transportation to go where they need to go. 6
Bicycles The bicycle, as a mode of transportation, was invented in 1816 as a form of a two-wheeled pedestrian hobby horse. This development of this mode, however, didn’t hit its zenith until the end of the 19th century when the development of the safety bicycle which replaced the Image 1
high-wheeler bicycles and then eventually evolved into the form of 5 6
Grava,14. Ibid, 13.
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modern bicycles that are used today. 7 This development of the high wheeler was one of the first forms of the bicycle, but the difference in wheel size between the front and the back wheel made it a very dangerous mode of transportation. High-wheeler bicycles lead to the development of the safety bike, a closer to the form of modern bicycle today. The modern bicycle uses two equally sized wheels which is safer and more efficient. The bicycle has become one of the most
Image 2
efficient and affordable devices for transporting people and goods over longer distances with a minimal amount of expended energy. 8 The bicycle is a mode of transportation that translates physical energy into a mechanical output of energy. This is done through a series of mechanisms that act to propel the device forward or backward.
Image 3
Bicycling is the most efficient, economically and environmentally, of any of the alternative modes of transportation. Transportation by bike does not produce pollution, it uses fewer materials, saves space, is relatively safe, as well as promotes a healthy lifestyle. There are countries in Western Europe such as Belgium, where the majority of people transport themselves to and from work every day by bicycle. The infrastructure used for these purposes is independent of automobiles and the road systems that they use. There are many places in the US such as Palto Alto, California where people have 7 8
Ibid, 63. Ibid, 63. Ross 23
chosen to use the bicycle as their main mode of transportation instead of the automobile. The bicycle’s rising popularity and usage is the main reason for the development of paved roads and pathways to accommodate them, as they rolled better on these surfaces. Different places, such as these, are examples of where the city functions properly with bicycles and walking as the dominant modes of transportation.
The Automobile The development of the automobile started with the steam powered vehicle, which was developed as early as 1769 by a French engineer Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and lead to the development of trains for logging and transportation of goods, and this mode gradually became dominant. This mode of transportation is powered by various means other than physical exertion and continued to develop through the years until 1885, when a German engineer named Karl Benz developed a practical automobile similar to the ones used today.
9
This lead to the development of the Model T by Henry Ford in 1908 which completely revolutionized the transportation industry and made
9Schilperoord,
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8.
it possible for automobiles to be widely used around the country. 10 It quickly influenced the way that cities were designed and constructed and changed the way people use cities. Cars created the ability for people to travel longer distances and take trips to other areas of the world. However, the growth of the automobile, in addition to increase in the global population, has created congestion in city centers and along many routes which were not initially designed for the automobile’s growth in popularity and usage. The ability to produce cars at a large scale added onto this growth in usage, and in-turn, the congestion that it creates.
Problems with the automobile The growing popularity of the automobile created many changes that made this mode of transportation a more pleasant and accessible way to travel as opposed to other options. However, this mode of transportation has also proven to create many additional problems that often outweigh its advantages. The first of the problems created by the over-saturation of automobiles in our major cities around the country is the degradation of other modes of transportation that it creates by limiting accessibility of their use and making many alternative modes unsafe. An example of this is the way that the automobile almost
10
Ibid, 7. Ross 25
completely eliminates the option of walking or cycling as a mode of transportation. Typically, the only area designated for the pedestrian in urban areas are paved sidewalks, sometimes on one side or both sides of the road. In suburban and rural areas these areas for pedestrian use are even more limited. These types of areas are not truly designed with people who walk for transportation in mind, but rather with the automobile in mind, and with the afterthought being the pedestrian. This over-dependence on the automobile and truck for transportation has created an over-saturation of the environment by a single mode of transportation, which has degraded other modes of transportation, making places like sidewalks unsafe and unattractive. Pedestrians have to deal with dangerous and busy road crossings, dangerous sidewalks along high speed roads, creates an overall unattractive experiences, one which most people want to avoid. Also, most accidents on the road happen at intersections because of the unsafe nature of the automobile, adding to this negative experience. The sidewalks along faster speed roads create a very dangerous experience. Driving automobiles isolates and encapsulates the user from the natural environment and from the community they are a part of. The journey for people who drive to work is one that goes from being Ross 26
inside a house, into an attached garage, into a car, into a parking garage, and into work, back to the parking garage, into the car, and back to the car garage at their home to do the same thing the next day. Throughout this experience there is no interaction with the outdoors or people which creates even further isolation of individuals in their communities. As all of these things come together in a city, it creates greater segregation and isolation of the people and places that occupy it.
Public Transportation Infrastructure The overcrowding and congestion formed by the current model of transportation design is creating a problem that is in need of a solution. One way to fix this type of transportation issue is to bring in an extensive public transportation network to link the various areas of a community together while providing a selection of multiple modes of transportation from which to choose from. Many cities in America have realized the extent of the transportation problems arising in the country from the over dependence on automobile and truck transportation and have taken steps to integrate other modes into their public transportation network to help fix the problem. “America’s public transportation systems are experiencing record high levels of customers. Since 1995, public transportation ridership
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has grown 21%, which is faster than the growth rate of the population of the United States as a whole. Today, over 14 million Americans board public transportation each day, taking 9.4 billion trips annually. Since 1980, the number of light rail systems in the country has increased from 7 to 31 with 640 miles of track.” 11
The Mobility Hub The “Mobility Hub” is one of the solutions that has emerged from an evolving need for a transportation system solution that can fix these current problems. Driving cars offers ease of mobility and convenience and the mobility hub was designed to provide similar benefits to people. “The purpose of the hub is to persuade suburbanites who dive to work to use public transit instead by building stations that are convenient, helpful (offering such services as grocery shopping and dry cleaning) and, above all, attractive.” 12 If that level of individual service were to be applied to the current public transportation systems, then we may might be able to reverse the negative image attached to public transportation and increase convenience. Incorporating other services and amenities that are needed by communities into the design of the various modes of transportation will create a situation that will promote increased usage. 11 12
Wortman, Leading, 2. Wortman, On the, 8.
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“Every segment of American Society - individuals, families, communities, businesses and industries - benefits from public transportation. It enhances personal opportunities by getting people where they need to go, whether its work, school or play. Public transportation helps all community members stay active and provides access to events and activities, creating strong personal bonds and community identity. It fosters communities where people can drive less and walk more, meeting the needs of all citizens.” 13
Aesthetics in Transportation Design This type of multi-modal “Mobility Hub” encourages more than just the use of multiple modes of transportation, it encourage economic and social prosperity. “New businesses and developers are drawn to transit stations where solid customer bases and consumer demands create an environment ripe for success.” 14 It does this by increasing commuters and foot traffic into areas of the city promoting economic growth. Together all of these elements of the multi-modal mobility hub have to come together and blend aesthetically to create a ‘sense of place’ and give a community a sense of identity. The largest reason for the unappealing nature of public transportation in many cities is the value engineering type of design that does not appeal aesthetically to 13 14
Wortman, Leading, 2. Ibid, 6. Ross 29
people but rather is there for purely functional reasons. For example, in New York the subway system was developed as part of a mass public transportation network, however the design of these stations are dark and dreary and dangerous which reduces ridership dramatically due to the fact that these stations are not attractive. Designers and engineers want the most efficient use of resources and money so they put most of the money for construction projects into the elements of the design necessary to make it safe and meet building codes. Extra money for aesthetic details can be seen as frivolous spending. Neglecting this element of aesthetic design, by transportation engineers like the ones in New York, has created public transportation centers that are truly depressing and uninspiring spaces that people want to avoid using if they can. If this type of multi-modal transportation hub can be designed to be aesthetically appealing to its users, it may encourage use and eventually change the preconceptions associated with public transportation. For example, “the Tacoma Light Rail system connects major destinations in a downtown that is redefining itself with new museums, Image 4
activity centers, and places to work and live in a fantastic setting. The light rail system is currently experiencing above projected ridership and is considered highly successful. The public art and architecture of the stations have set the bar high for outstanding urban design in an Ross 30
expanding community.� 15 Many engineers and city officials prioritize economy over aesthetic considerations and want to use their funds as efficiently as possible. Extra expenditures are usually seen as unnecessary to the overall function of the design, and is therefore cut out of the design. “As our urban landscape grows more inhospitable and less attractive, however, the public is demanding more than just utility and economy in engineering projects.� 16
Light Rail systems Light rail transit systems, or LRTs, have begun to emerge as the best one of the best modes of transportation to efficiently serve a community. The Light rail has the ability to transport a large number of people efficiently with the most satisfying experience. The mechanical efficiency of an LRT system is unmatched by any of the other mode of transportation and can transport more people efficiently to their destination. This is because these are electric vehicles which can carry more people while decreasing pollution emissions, fuel usage, and are much more efficient than truck and automobile transportation. All of these factors combined have given LRT systems a more positive public image and thus LRT systems have been adopted by more and more cities and usage has grown dramatically. 15 16
Magie, 31. Ibid. Ross 31
Conclusion Together, through the usage of all of these various modes of transportation, cities such as the Raleigh, North Carolina will be able to cater to all of its users equally. If a community can commit to the use of different public transportation methods other than driving their automobiles to their destination, then they will see lightened load on the city, giving them more space to enjoy, and more time outdoors. Studies and surveys have shown that when people who are not regular users of public transportation are asked, “How do you feel about bus
Image 5
and rail�. Results of this survey showed an astonishing need for a light rail mode of public transportation as 97% said that they would use the rail if it were available to them instead of driving to their destination daily. There will always be a certain amount of people who will want to use their automobiles and not use public transportation. 17 The cost of using public transportation averages from around $50-$100 a month. The majority of public transportation users say it is because of its quick transport times, enjoyable and worry-free experience where they may read a book or listen to music as well as not having to worry about parking when they get to their destination. The daily automobile commuter however averages around $300-$500 a month of expenses.
17
Camino, 1.
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All of these various users send a strong message that there is a real need for a mass public transportation system. They voice a message that says that our efforts should be steered away from the current fixation, on our never ending upgrade of the road networks (because they may never be able to keep up with its growth in usage), and onto the creation of more, easily accessible modes of public transportation. 18
“America must invest substantially to support its surface transportation infrastructure and to enable public transportation agencies to be well equipped for the future. The majority report from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, ‘Transportation for Tomorrow,’ delineates clearly the importance to the future success of the nation, the scale of investment that will be required for the US to remain competitive in the world economy, and the importance of a multi-modal approach in recognizing transit and intercity rail investment.” 19 The increasing popularity of various modes of transportation sends a strong message to city planners that there is a real desire and a strong need for mass public transportation. These voices send a strong message to city planners to stay away from an over dependence on automobiles and trucks for transportation and design for the increasing
18 19
Ibid. Wortman, 8. Ross 33
need to use multi-modal means of transportation. In conclusion, the future success of our cities is dependent on the amount of investment that is put into the development of an efficient and equitable public transportation network that includes all the various modes of transport into one large system to service the people will be a tremendous benefit in the future and will help improve businesses and improve the communities overall standard of living.
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A New Architectural Typology; The Transit Facility Abstract: This paper aims to explain the creation of the transit facility and the evolution of its Architectural Typology. It explains how British transportation facilities helped influence this typology. It then goes through the evolution of various railed modes of transportation such as the steam and electric locomotives and the Maglev train. Finally it talks about various transit facilities and the elements they employ.
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Transport Architecture: Public Transportation Facilities have come a long way since they were first developed. One of the first major Transit Facilities was the first train station in London, England, named Kings Cross Station. This facility was a development which came about because of the invention of the train which revolutionized the way in which people were able to travel. Passenger trains could carry a larger number of
Image 6
people and goods a longer distance, while using less energy and resources than any other mode of transportation around this time (mid19th century). Places like Kings Cross Station became major gateways to enter through into the city, or a gateway to travel outside the city. This building typology began to grow very quickly in Europe after these developments and quickly grew in popularity. This created more usage and thus increased ridership, which in-turn, created the opportunity for these facilities to include many extra opportunities or amenities that could also service its users. These stations began to include things such as other modes of transportation, for example bicycles and pedestrians, and public transportation, such as buses and cabs, into the network of design to give users greater freedom of movement. They also began including shopping and recreational
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opportunities to bring in more people and to service the surrounding community.
Evolution in Typology: Out of this evolution of transit facility services emerged the idea of the mobility hub. A Mobility Hub is a facility that includes public transportation infrastructure; such as walking and bike paths, road and bus systems, light-rail and streetcar systems, along with public amenities such as public parks and green spaces, and public recreation areas with public facilities. This hub also includes public amenities; such as shopping and retail areas, and mixed use spaces. These elements of a mobility hub must all come together, and most importantly these elements must create an attractive, holistic design in order to give the facility an overall identity. When all of these elements of the mobility hub combine, they form a network of various entities that must all work together synergistically in order to service the needs of it surrounding communities.
British Transportation Architecture: British transportation architecture emerged during the late 19th century as the first to tackle this new building typology. Transit facilities began to take on their own form of architecture, having little
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or nothing to draw from in terms of precedents in this type of design. Transportation facilities began to be designed for other purposes, aside from just rail transit, such as airports and motorist facilities. These various facilities began to merge and from this a hybrid emerged, “the ‘interchange’ where passengers move between rail, bus, air, car, and sometimes sea, in a single multi-leveled building”. 20 This evolution of transport facilities creates a complex network of systems that act to work for the people of the community it serves as well as its visitors. Over the years the typology of the transport facility has developed and has begun to be engrained into the fabric of these communities. These facilities grew to be much more than just a place for transportation, they have become a gateway into a place as well as a gateway to travel. “The volume of the building acts as a container for memories as well as providing the functional means of access to cities or trains. This is perhaps why the building type has evolved into an interior of height, volume and light. As such it is a spacious container whose dimensions go beyond that which can be justified by function and utility alone.” 21
20 21
Holder, 4. Ibid, 17.
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Elements of Transport Architecture: The characteristics of transit architecture have developed the form of its particular building typology. One of these characteristics is a plan that reflects its function. “The key element of the type, common to all transport buildings, is a gathering space where tickets and information are obtained, and a separate space where boarding occurs. The first space is enclosed, lofty, often round and architecturally contained; the second is open and linear. The geometry of space mirrors the pattern of activity involved in moving from a public to a semi-public realm, and in negotiating a change in speed facilitated by joining a train, plane or bus.� 22 These spaces for waiting began to include such amenities as pedestrian malls with shops and cafes to aid in the positive travel experience of its users. The introduction of these various elements into the transportation facility to create a network of functions has become common place and over the years has become almost necessary for a facility of this type to be successful. When all of these elements come together for a transit facility, it creates a unique architectural and structural challenge. “This agglomeration of functions exists usually with a single all-embracing roof whose span requires a bold structural solution. As a consequence
22
Ibid, 7. Ross 39
structural elements such as the column, truss and beam provide a major part of the architectural expression of British transport buildings of the twentieth century.” 23 These challenges can provide an opportunity for a creative solution that, through thoughtful design, can create a new identity for an area. “Although transport buildings are primarily concerned with the efficient movement of people and goods, the best examples seek to provide dignity and hospitality for travelers. Dignity is reflected in the large volumes which constitute the booking halls and the reception points; hospitality is the many shops and cafes which are constructed within transport buildings. In fact, as the twentieth century unfolded, retail facilities expanded to the point where railway station and the filling station became a corner shop for local residents.” 24
Evolution of Railed Modes of Transportation: The transit facility, as it developed as an archetype over the years, became the model of modernity and the ability to be able to view a city by train and to enter a place through this type of gateway was, “to enjoy the thrill and anticipation of modernity itself”. 25 As the facility
Ibid, 4. Ibid, 4. 25 Ibid, 4. 23 24
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developed, so did the types of railed transit that were used in it. The first railed modes of transport were steam powered trains that could transport people and goods along a railed pathway. These steam powered modes were eventually able to travel at speeds up to around 126 mph by 1938. This speed was set by a steam powered train from London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and it established its
Image 7
practical limits. 26 Years later the electric powered train was invented in 1903 by a German company named Siemens and Halske. The electric powered locomotive that was first invented was able to reach speeds up to 130 mph while still being more efficient than the steam powered locomotive. “Electric locomotives offer far better performance and cause less pollution than steam locomotives. They are also much more efficient and require less maintenance than their steam counterparts.” 27
The Maglev Train: The idea for a new type of railed transit arrived in 1934 when engineer Herman Kemper came up with the idea for a ‘flying’ train that could float over rails through the use of magnetic levitation. This idea was, however, ahead of its time and was not actually developed into a working concept for a train until 2003 when Shanghai installed
Image 8 26 27
Schilperoord, 122. Ibid, 123. Ross 41
the first Maglev locomotive. “Magnetic Levitation is a system that works with a linear motor, which pushes the vehicle forward by magnetic excitation of the support magnets. Braking is possible by reversing the direction of the magnetic traveling field. This turns the motor into a generator, which brakes the train and generates electricity that can be re-used and fed back into the electrical network.” 28 There are many advantages to using Maglev trains over the other trains such as frictionless travel because there is no contact between the train and the rails it’s riding on. Magnetic levitation eliminates the mechanical friction that would regularly be present and there are no mechanical components that will wear out. This means that the maglev train requires much less maintenance than other trains. The elimination of rolling friction also helps to eliminate the noise produced by it. “The total weight of the trains is much lower, and is distributed better than the pin-point loads of conventional train wheels. This allows for a much lighter track infrastructure.” 29 The Central Japan Railway set the maximum speed for all locomotives in 2003 when their MLX01 Bullet train reached speeds of up to 361 mph. Together all of these factors come together to form one of the best railed modes of transportation.
28 29
Ibid, 128. Ibid, 129.
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The evolution of the locomotive happened very quickly and through the years the list of different railed modes of transit has grown long. A few of these modes are, for example; the TransRapid, a high speed maglev train, SkyTrain, a form of personal rapid transit, and ULTra, a form of urban light-transport. The Transrapid was developed by a German company named Transrapid International. This mode of railed transit was first installed in 2003 in Shanghai and is capable of speeds up to 310 mph with its operating speed at around 280 mph. The Transrapid is capable of carrying up to 210 passengers per train with the maximum capacity of a single segment of the train around 92 occupants.
30
The ULTra, Urban Light Transport system is an electrically powered, low occupancy transportation vehicle similar to a car on tracks. ULTra was developed in 2005 by a British Company named Advanced Transport Systems, or ATS, as a highly personalized and on Image 9
demand ‘personal transport’. “This system operates with a fleet of driverless electric vehicles, running on a network of elevated or ground level guide way routes.” 31 This system is so efficient that it is estimated that wait times for this system averaged around only 10 seconds for each customer. “The non-stop travel of these lightweight vehicles is substantially more energy efficient than conventional public 30 31
Ibid, 147. Ibid, 160. Ross 43
transport or cars. The low floor and easy access make the vehicles suitable for any passenger, including the disabled. The vehicles have a seating capacity of four with some additional standing room, or space for a wheelchair.” The addition of modes of transportation, like these previous two examples, into a city’s or community’s existing public transportation infrastructure results in a situation similar to the ‘interchange’, but with much more individually tailored options for its user. This idea of a well-designed, integrated network of transportation facilities and services, existing and working together to serve the public has been incorporated by many cities and communities around the world. Airports have also begun to incorporate these multi-modal transportation options. A great majority of people have begun to demand this type of all-inclusive design in all city transportation projects.
Tackling the Design Challenge: This typology of transit facility architecture developed into one of the most complex design challenges for designers. This type of project involves a great amount of planning and thoughtful design to tackle the complexity in design, engineering, and urban planning. Over the years many designers and engineers have sought to design Ross 44
the most efficient transportation networks and facilities such as the very successful Grand Central Station in New York, NY and the breathtaking Liege-Guillemins Station in Liege, Belgium. These are both examples of stations that have attempted to cater to the surrounding community by incorporating multi-modal design, planning, and steady consideration into these transport facilities, and have done so with great success.
Liege-Guillemins Station: The Liege- Guillemins Station was designed by Santiago Calatrava and constructed in 2006 for the community of Liege, Belgium. The site for the project was located in the eastern part of Belgium and was meant to “connect two very different parts of the Image 10
city: Colline de Cointe, a quiet residential hillside area, and Guillemins, a busy district including retail services.” 32 The station was deigned to be located near the site of the old station and to include nine different rail lines. The facility also has room for up to 800 cars and a vehicular bridge to allow access by automobiles in order to be able to cater to the idea of the ‘interchange’. Also included in the facility are other services such as car-rental services and travelers’
32
Thorne, 59. Ross 45
services, rooms for staff and management, and observation areas that provide panoramic views of the surrounding mountainous area. “Together the subway, footbridges, and various elevators, escalators, staircases, and gangways are part of a well-thought-out system of communication throughout the station.” “The whole building seeks to be a visual effective link crossing over the tracks. Calatrava’s design is like a bridge, meeting the demand for a connection between the two different parts of Liege.” 33
Atocha Station: Another example of a transit facility that developed during this evolution, the Atocha Station in Madrid, Spain designed by Architect Rafael Moneo and constructed in 1992. This facility incorporates the existing station from 1892 with new construction to create a complex of restaurants, various services, as well as an indoor tropical garden. The facility also includes a significant amount of public spaces that act to serve the users of the facility, and involves 15 different rail lines on 8 different platforms. “The new facility, in addition to providing suburban, longdistance, and high-speed rail services, also connects to a subway 33
Ibid, 60.
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station, taxi and bus stops, as well as new parking facilities (which can hold up to 670 cars).” 34
Transbay Terminal: The Transbay Terminal is a multi-modal transit facility in San Francisco, California designed by SNWM and Richard Rogers Partnership and was completed around the year 2008. This transit facility was developed to help with the increasing travel loads in the San Francisco bay region as well as for the west coast as a whole. The facility is made up of a very complex arrangement of programmatic elements and various modes of transport such as bus and railed transit systems that work together with the state wide network of transit systems. “The leading planning team has stated that the building should be designed to encourage and accommodate new transit ridership while also being a memorable public structure – a celebratory building that is an appropriate gateway to and from San Francisco.” 35 The facility also incorporates high rise developments, mixed use housing, offices, a hotel, educational facilities, as well as retail and shopping areas. This plan creates a situation similar to the 34 35
Ibid, 127. Ibid, 151. Ross 47
‘interchange’ where you may use several different modes of transport to get to a final destination while passing through spaces that provide essential services and amenities to its users. Together all of these things come together in a five level facility that is able to engage the area on various levels and provide a seamless transition of transportation services and public amenities.
Grand Central Station: Grand Central Station is a transit facility located in downtown New York, NY. This facility was designed and built over many years and with the assistance of many architects and engineers in several stages of construction. The facility was home to 67 different
Image 11
underground subway tracks that are capable of accommodating up to 110,000 passengers daily. 36 Also incorporated into this large facility are various shops and retail opportunities that give the station an array of services and amenities that act to bring in even more guests. Historian Carroll Meeks stated, “No better station of its size has ever been built”, in regards to the design of this facility. “Indeed, the city of New York has firmly embraced this beautiful terminal.” 37 The mechanical systems of this facility are very advanced and were designed to tackle some rather difficult environmental 36 37
Brown, 74. Ibid, 74.
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challenges. The station uses an underground system of electric trains that are able to serve a large amount of New York. The facility also employs several systems to assist in passenger movement such as elevators, escalators to move people, as well as ‘pneumatic tubes’ that assisted in transporting things such as baggage and tickets. Over the years this facility has sparked a great amount of economic growth and as more and more people moved into the city elevating the value of the area quickly. Many shops and retail stores began to pop up around the area. The area also saw a number of high rise multi-use buildings which added to the potential growth of the area and to the number of commuters that use this transport facility. “The Grand Central Terminal can thus, with justice, be described as the generator of a vast concentration of new urban development.” 38
In Conclusion: The development of a highly integrated transportation facility into major urban city centers can create positive economic growth. The facility goes much further than this, however, and become the
38
Fitch, 7. Ross 49
catalyst for an overall happy and productive community of people while provide essential services and amenities that create a much more positive commuting experience. When people are free to move where they want and free to do so using any mode of transportation they want, they are more likely to enjoy themselves and more likely to engage in positive activities. These facilities are major generators of urban energy that can change the way downtown areas are perceived. These facilities become gateways into and out of a city while also acting as a container for the memories of its users.
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n Method
Design Method
se Study
Case Study
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Santiago Calatrava, LLC
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Alex Ross Graduate Seminar Architecture Firm Case study
"Architect, Engineer, Artist"
Calatrava is not perturbed by the coexistence of art, architecture, and engineering.
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Architectural Theory CALATRAVA: "I try to emphasize the importance of place. The very ďŹ rst impression will come from the place. And I think it is fundamental to establish a link of feeling with this place."
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Calatrava... " seems to feel that the architect can elevate a place such as a railway station and give it a sense of the sacred." " By exalting abstract values, architecture is capable of being a catalyst for enormous events."
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â?–
Grand Central Terminal " The feeling that I get in the Central Hall of Grand Central Terminal is the product of great intelligence. It gives a particular sense, even a sacred aspect to commerce. While sacriďŹ cing nothing of its utility, the station becomes an act of celebration. Look at all that has sprung up around the void at the heart of Grand Centralthe Seagram Building and Park itself."
Image 14
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--"A synthesis of aesthetics and structural physics."--
Complexity through Simplicity Calitrava creates forms that use a simple shape and through repetition creates a complex whole.
"If you go at it (design) with a purely functionalist attitude, you don't catalyze anything. You wind up with a mediocre shopping mall."
Image 15
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Concept Diagrams
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Evolution of Transportation Walking Wheeled Modes Carrages Push Bike Saftey Bike Modern Day Bike Scooters Automobiles Cars
Taxis
Buses
Motorcycles
Railed Modes Steam Locomotive Electric Locomotive Maglev Train Air Transit Water Transit
The Mobility Hub Bike Lanes Walking and Running Paths Bus Systems Trolley Systems Railed System Networks Recreration Areas Ross 60
Shopping Areas
Evolution of Transit Facilities Architecture Typology Layout of Spaces Size of Facility Shape of Spaces Style reflects usage/ mode used Railed Modes Steam Locomotives Electric Locomotives Maglev Trains ULTra Transit Systems SkyTrain Transit Systems Meaning of Space Container of Memories Gateway Into a Place Portal to New Places Meeting Place Place to say goodbyes
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Bibliography:
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1. Magie, Dian. On the Road Again... Creative Transportation Design, North Carolina: The Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, 2005. Print. 2. Schilperoord, Paul. Future Tech: Innovations in Transportation, London: Black Dog Publishing, 2006. Print. 3. Wortman, Marc. Public Transportation: On the Move..., Washington DC: The American Public Transportation Association, 2005. Print. 4. Stone, Tabor. Beyond the Automobile: Reshaping the Transportation Environment, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.Prentice Hall, Inc, 1971. Print. 5. Grava, Sigurd. Urban Transportation Systems: Choices for communities, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Print. 6. Wortman, Marc. Public Transportation: Leading the Way..., Washington, DC: The American Public Transportation Association, 2008. Print. 7. Camino, Fred. “Why you ride (or don’t) Thursday Roundup,” thesource.metro.net: (Accessed 10-23-13). 8. Brown, Christopher. Still Standing: A Century of Urban Transportation Design, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2005. Print. 9. Fitch, James and Diana Waite. Grand Central Terminal and Rockefeller Center: A Historic-critical Estimate of Their Significance, New York: New York State Parks and Recreation, 1974. Print. 10. Holder, Julian and Steven Parissien. The Architecture of British Transport in the Twentieth Century, Great Britain: Yale University Press, 2004. Print.
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11. Jodidio, Philip. Santiago Calatrava: Architect, Engineer, Artist, Germany: TASCHEN, 2007. Print. 12. Schilperoord, Paul. Future Tech: Innovations in Transportation, London: Black Dog Publishing, 2006. Print. 13. Thorne, Martha. Modern Trains and Splendid Stations: Architecture, Design, and Rail Travel for the Twenty-first Century, London: Merrell Publishers Limited, 2001. Print. 14. Wortman, Marc. Public Transportation: On the Move‌, Washington DC: The American Public Transportation Association, 2005. Print.
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