02-24-2021, 01:01 PM
(02-23-2021, 04:39 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(02-23-2021, 03:56 PM)Nextasy Wrote: Not sure if it was mentioned already, but looks like the Conestoga Mall terminal is getting a reconfig. RFP has been issued.
Trips at the station in 2019 were up to 10,000/day, from 6,000 pre-LRT. The roadway and sidewalk capacity is insufficient, and much more pedestrian thru-traffic exists now due to ION.
Design to consider:
The 21/31 platform and Ion station are out of scope and will remain as-is.
- Improvements to the pedestrian amenities/facilities including, sidewalks, crosswalks, street furniture (i.e. benches, trash receptacles, and bicycle parking racks) etc.
- Illumination Improvements;
- Signage Improvements throughout the station;
- Coordination involved as part of potential utility relocations as well as electrical and communications servicing for lighting and bus shelters
- Landscape enhancements where feasible;
- Couple other things that aren't as important
Do you have more details on the specific improvements. There are several clear deficiencies (like, should have been career ending for the engineers designing it, deficiencies) in the design of the station. Specifically access to the bus station from the ION station is nearly 150 meters for pedestrians, to cover a distance of only about 50 meters as the crow flies.
And that's leaving aside the unnecessary but intentionally dangerous slip ramp into the mall, that I'm sure is outside the scope of the Bus station, and the lack of a pedestrian crossing across King to provide any access to the businesses on the other side of King. Good God I forgot how pedestrian oppressive that area is.
Fun fact I just realized looking at the map. That station is effectively grade separated. Maybe not a full height but the mall is clearly significantly lower.
Not more than that for now. I think this is just to get the consultants on board, who will no doubt come up with a more detailed plan. My impression is that there will be a greater emphasis of pedestrian paths through the station, rather than just being a collection of bus bays, but that might be optimistic considering its private land. I'm not even sure this will involve an increased area honestly.