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r- ~ <br />1. <br />i <br />,__ <br />Bus Turnouts <br />5) A turnout is a specialized bus stop. where a <br />transit vehicle can load or unload passengers in <br />an area separated from the traffic lanes. Turnouts <br />are appropriate in certain conditions. A properly <br />marked turnout also serves as a reminder of the <br />availability of transit service. <br />6) It is important that turnouts be properly <br />designed with sufficient length to allow for easy <br />and safe flow by the bus in and out of traffic. If <br />there is a high traffic volume on the road, <br />efficient bus operation may require that the <br />timing of nearby traffic signals be designed to <br />ensure that there will be sufficient gaps in the <br />traffic to allow the bus to pull back into the <br />traffic flow. <br />7) Safety and traffic flow are important consider- <br />ations in deciding whether to install a turnout. <br />Turnouts may be helpful on roads that function <br />with higher speeds (over 40 miles per hour) <br />because there is less risk of rear-end collision <br />while the bus is stopped to load or unload <br />passengers. A stopped bus also will not impede <br />traffic flow, which could be a significant advan- <br />tage for traffic operation on a high speed road, <br />particularly if the stop time is long due to high <br />passenger activity or boardings by persons in <br />wheelchairs. <br />8) Installing turnouts on roads that function with <br />speeds of 40 miles per hour or less should be <br />approached with caution. If there is a high <br />volume of traffic (exceeding 250 vehicles per <br />hour) for al I or part of the day, with few gaps in <br />the traffic, it may take an extended amount of <br />time for the bus to safely enter the travel lane after <br />a stop, resulting in longer travel time for transit <br />riders and higher operational costs. This could be <br />mitigated by the use of traffic control signals, or <br />queue jumpers at a nearby intersection. <br />Passenger Amenities <br />9) Basic passenger amenities at bus stops, where <br />they are required as part of the development <br />review process, may include: <br />a) Bus stop sign and pole <br />b) Bench <br />c) Shelter <br />d) Information display unit <br />e) Trash can <br />f) Concrete boarding pad <br />g) Lighting <br />h) Bicycle rack <br />10) Transit stations are located at major rider <br />activity points and typically include sheltered <br />areas, benches, passenger information displays, <br />lighting, telephones, drinking fountains, clocks, <br />and landscaping. <br />Turning Radius <br />11) At some intersections, LTD buses have <br />difficulty, or are unable to turn due to tight <br />corner curb returns. In some instances, buses <br />must encroach on the adjacent lane, or use the <br />bicycle lane or parking lane in order to complete <br />the turn. Properly designed corner curb radius <br />will minimize conflicts among buses, cars, <br />bicycles and pedestrians at intersections. Stan- <br />dards for turning radius can vary depending on <br />the effective radius such as whether a bicycle <br />lane or parking lane is available or if traffic <br />volumes are so low as to allow transit vehicles to <br />make full use of either or both of the departure <br />or receiving lanes. Curb radius should be <br />designed to accommodate bus movements <br />where appropriate. The City shall coordinate <br />with LTD on designing intersections and streets <br />to ensure that bus movements can be accommo- <br />dated. (See Intersection section of this chapter). <br />85 <br />