Pace Suburban Bus Pace Development Guidelines

III. VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS

When designing roadways, intersections and transit facilities that will be used by Pace vehicles, transit vehicle characteristics should be considered. Vehicle height, width, weight and turning radii are among the items that will help determine roadway and transit facility design. Designing to accommodate these vehicle characteristics will ensure efficient maneuverability of Pace buses and enhance service provision as well as improve passenger comfort. Proper design minimizes transit vehicle encroachment into other lanes of traffic, decreases property and vehicle damage, reduces travel times, improves passenger comfort particularly during turning movements and helps maintain pavement surfaces.

The effectiveness of transit services heavily depends on land use and development design(1). While various land uses, like mixed-use developments and high densities support public transportation, transit services must also be integrated into development design to be an effective travel alternative to the single passenger automobile. Therefore, Pace vehicle specifications and bus turning radii are illustrated in this Section to aid in the design of developments and roadways. In addition to the Pace fleet, these specifications generally accommodate emergency vehicle movements and promote efficient snow removal by public works vehicles.

Although Pace is primarily interested in the efficient and effective operation of its vehicles in the suburban environment, designing developments to accommodate transit service delivery also enhances lifestyle options for suburban residents and workers. "How these places are developed and designed--their densities, mixture of uses, site layout, parking provisions, and so on-sets the stage for virtually all commuting behavior."(2)

For this reason, strong consideration must be given to not only local needs but also regional goals in promoting ridesharing and non-motorized transportation.

A. Vehicle Specifications

B. Vehicle Turning Radius

1. American Public Transit Association, Building Better Communities (Washington, D.C., 1989), pp. 3-5.

2. Cervero, Robert, America's Suburban Centers (Unwin Hyman, Boston, MA: 1989) pg. 18.

Revised: November, 1999.

Development Guidelines Title Page | Table of Contents