Criteria for effective transport interchange

Abstract

The interchange has always had a vital role in the makeup of a city, as can be seen in many stations of the past. These buildings, which often formed the hub of a community, traditionally catered simply for the basic transport needs required. However in today's society of modern technology, the interchange has needed to grow and change to support far more than just transport. The interchanges of today have once again become the focus of many cities, as a result of an increasing emphasis on mass transit. The interchange as the primary point of contact between mass transit and city means the design of this interface is becoming more important. They are affected by a diverse range of factors, the omission of which may ultimately define whether an interchange is labelled a success or if it is simply shunned by the people it is meant to serve. These factors or elements can then be distilled to form a set of base design criteria or principles that can be used in the design of a transport interchange.