Bus Shelter Redevelopment Schematic Design

City Council Report

City Council Meeting: January 12, 2010

Agenda Item: 8-B

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Lee E. Swain, Department of Public Works

Subject: Bus Shelter Redevelopment Schematic Design Process

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council:

1) approve a Bus Shelter schematic design and word mark background; and

2) authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a First Modification to Contract No. 9043 (CCS) with Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects for the Bus Shelter Redevelopment Project. This modification is not to exceed $325,102 which includes a 10% contingency, for a revised contract total of $984,992.

Executive Summary

Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) has developed three passenger shelter concepts for the Big Blue Bus System. This report presents staff’s recommendation for a single shelter concept that, if approved by Council, will be presented at a series of public outreach meetings for further input from the public.

This report also requests authorization to modify LOHA’s existing contract. Modification to the existing contract is required to complete the design phase which includes additional site surveys and documentation, expanded design services, and meetings and presentations. This modification increases the consultant’s fee from the original total contract amount of $659,890 to a total not to exceed $984,992. Funding in the amount of $6.1 million for the bus shelter project is currently available in the capital budget.

Background

An analysis to identify the boarding volume of all bus stops within the City of Santa Monica has been completed and was used to determine which bus shelter type should be used at each location. The results of the bus stop analysis have identified heavily utilized transit corridors with a high concentration of the shelter locations along 4^th Street and Pico Boulevard. Citywide, the four types of stops that have been identified are:

“Type 1” High Volume 100 – 999 boardings per day, 54 stops
“Type 2” Moderate Volume 50 – 99 boardings per day, 42 stops
“Type 3” Lower Volume 49 or less boardings per day, 259 stops
“Type 4” Special High Volume over 1,000 boarding’s per day, 1 stop

The “Type” location map is included as “Attachment A” and amenities included at each “Type” are described in “Attachment D”. Images depicting a typical high volume stop, moderate volume stop, and low volume stop are in “Attachment B”.

Each stop in the City will be redeveloped based on this analysis. The familiar typeface currently used on existing bus stop targets will be applied to the redeveloped shelters and information areas. Bus stops outside the City of Santa Monica will also be updated with new more simplified signage, but may be rolled out at a later date depending on funding.

On January 22, 2008, the Big Blue Bus Department (BBB) presented Council with “Off the Shelf” shelter designs and one custom shelter design for direction and feedback on the development of the new bus stop shelter. Council provided direction to develop bus stop types that are unique to Santa Monica and to address specific passenger needs.

On March 3, 2009, Council authorized an agreement with LOHA for design services for the Bus Shelter Redevelopment Project.

LOHA began their design process with a series of public stakeholder interviews to gather opinion on the development of the new shelter design and amenities. Items that were most important to the stakeholders were: protection from the elements (sun, wind, rain), ease of viewing (to and from) approaching buses, adequate seating, ease of identifying stops from a distance, transit information signage and cityscape improvements.

Discussion

Signage and Information

The Big Blue Bus needs to place its word mark onto the new architecture and seeks to improve way-finding information found at bus stops. Three treatments of the Big Blue Bus word mark are attached for review. Staff is requesting City Council choose one of three possible word marks that would be used on the new architecture. “Attachment E” shows the current word mark on a plain Big Blue Bus blue background. “Attachment F” shows the word mark refreshed to better fit the space, to be more legible on a streetscape, to place emphasis on the word ‘blue’, and it changes the dot of the “I” to a circle to compliment the architecture. “Attachment G” shows the same adapted word mark but on a background using the current Big Blue Bus colors and a circular graphic element to reference the shelter design.

Route and schedule information will also be updated with a new style of map called a spider diagram. Spider diagrams have been developed as a better, easier way for customers to understand transit information and reduce the amount of space required at each stop for information. In addition, spider diagrams are site specific to each bus stop making the information presented at the stop specific to that location. A sample spider diagram is included as “Attachment H”.

In addition to route specific information, a regional map to assist with transit planning and a localized map for an area that is walkable from an individual bus stop will be available at the high and moderate volume stops.

Shelter Design

The proposed preliminary conceptual bus shelter design by LOHA adapts site orientation, existing infrastructure, the built environment and solar angle variations found in the 360 bus shelter sites throughout the City while maintaining a legible streetscape through a simple adjustable system. Composed of a series of circular shade canopies, singular pole mounts and individual seats; the flexible and adaptable design allows sites to be individually calibrated according to solar orientation, varying site conditions, and to provide maximum shade at each site throughout the day.

In addition, by separating the shelter into its parts, the proposed system provides the flexibility to maneuver components as needed, reduce clutter and organize amenities through a cohesive set of elements. It also provides ease of expandability. For long term maintenance, units can be (re)placed on site individually, rather than an entire shelter. Additionally, the high transparency in the design of the structure minimizes vertical barriers and visual impact on surrounding businesses and provides users with high visibility for safety purposes.

Several other considerations were incorporated into the custom shelter design:

· Maximum visibility through the shelters to the buildings behind them, ensuring that businesses can be clearly seen.

· The use of solar technology to power the shelter lights and the real-time information signs supports the City of Santa Monica’s sustainability goals. Solar capabilities are an option on some of the shelters. If added, solar adaptation may slightly modify the roof line of the shelter. A study is currently underway to see how many of the shelters could be powered solely or in part with solar technology.

· Trash receptacles and recycling bins will be included as elements of the design. The Department of Public Works has met with project staff to discuss the requirements for implementation of specific on-street recycling containers.

· The custom shelters will provide both static informational signs and real-time signs that inform customers of the wait time until the next bus.

Incorporating storm water reduction measures into the design and construction of the shelters has been researched and is not recommended due to redundancy with the existing Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility system, tree requirements that might be in conflict with the City’s list of approved tree list, added costs of roughly 70% the estimated cost of the bus shelter, and greatly increased construction time. More detailed review can be found in “Attachment C”.

Once the schematic design is approved, the design will be developed further and a full cost analysis will be completed. A schedule will be developed as well to identify the number of stops that can be upgraded and their locations. BBB hopes to install 50% of High Volume shelters and 30% of Moderate and Lower Volume signage in phase one, and the remainder of the stops and locations in phases two and three as funding allows.

Contract Modification

As a result of the design direction and City reviews, LOHA’s contract will be increased to include the following scope:

· As-Built documentation of existing stops missing from original stop location list.

· Additional documentation required for stops that are going to receive higher level of amenities then were in the originally scope.

· Additional documentation of selected sites outside the city limits.

· Addition of a sub consultant to assist in developing the material best suited for the fabrication of the design.

· Refresh the original BBB identity with minor design changes.

· Develop visual treatments for the application of existing graphics to the new hybrid buses scheduled for delivery in December 2009.

· Development of local and regional maps.

· Additional travel and reproduction expenses.

Public Outreach

Once a design option is selected, public outreach will begin. Staff has developed a comprehensive outreach strategy to reach the Business Improvement Districts, neighborhood associations, business groups, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, key boards and commissions such as the Commission for the Senior Community and Disabilities Commission, and transit riders. Public outreach meetings, presentations, and a blog site will provide many options for the public to review and comment.

Once a design option is selected, outreach to the businesses around each bus shelter will begin. Information showing the design will be mailed out as well as made available on the buses and on BBB’s website for comment. Public meetings will also be conducted.

Next steps

· Council input and approval of a schematic design.

· Fifteen Community Outreach events have been set up between January 13^th and February 12^th to gather input and feedback from the community.

· Design Development phase adapting the design in response to Council and public comments (February 2010).

· Architectural Review Board for a courtesy review (March 2010).

· Return to council for final approval of the design (March 2010).

· Complete the design process (May 2010).

· Advertise the project for bidding by general contractor for the installation of the shelters (Summer 2010).

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

Funds in the amount $325,102 for this contract amendment are available in account C410114.589000. Sufficient funds for the completion of the 20 full-custom designed shelters are included in the Big Blue Bus’ adopted CIP budget. The cost of ongoing maintenance of the shelters is estimated at $100,000 and will be covered by current operational funding.

Prepared by: Alex Parry, Architect

Dan Dawson, Customer Relations Administrator Big Blue Bus

Approved:

Forwarded to Council: