2. What we’ll cover
• Types of transit networks and their
attributes
• Transit networks and placemaking
• Interaction between roadway
networks and transit networks

3. What’s a transit network?
Transit Network: the spatial configuration
of the individual lines of a transit system

4. What’s a sustainable transit network?
1. Enabling: people can travel without
depending on private vehicles
2. Efficient: consumes least amount of
resources for what you get
3. Fast: allows for timely travel
4. Affordable: can be maintained in all
economic climates

5. Transit Network Typologies
Amorphous Radial Grid Hub and Spoke

6. Transit Network Typologies

7. Amorphous Networks

8. Amorphous Networks

9. Amorphous Networks
• Confusing
• Difficult to coordinate transfers
• Not a network that you’d ordinarily
design
• May be all that can be done on
older street patterns

10. Radial Networks

13. Radial Networks

14. Radial Networks

15. Radial Networks

16. Radial Networks

18. Radial Networks
• Ideal for serving one central activity
center
• Inflexible to changes in activity locations
• Access any point on network with a
single transfer
• Can require out-of-direction travel
• Poor continuity on grid street systems

19. Grid Networks

20. Grid Networks

21. Grid Networks
¼ mile walk
Spacing: 0.5 mile or less

22. Grid Networks
Frequency: 12 minutes or less

25. Grid Networks
• Ideal for area wide coverage
• Needs high density to justify frequent
service
• Best suited to grid street networks
• Greater likelihood of transfers
• Not convenient in low-density areas

26. Hub and Spoke Networks

27. Hub and Spoke Networks

28. Hub and Spoke Networks

30. Hub and Spoke Networks

32. 95%
5%
CBD

33. Hub and Spoke Networks
• Ideal for serving many activity centers
• Less frequent service can still be
attractive
• Relatively economical to operate
• Timed transfers are essential
• Transfer facilities should be of high
quality

34. Transit Network Typologies
Enabling
Efficient
to center
Fast elsewhere
Affordable

35. local bus
rapid transit
commuter
rail

36. Transit Networks and Placemaking

37. Transit Networks and Placemaking
Amorphous Radial Grid Hub and Spoke

38. Transit Networks and Placemaking
bus line
rail line
CBD

39. Transit Networks and Placemaking
4 localities accessed directly
TOD?
CBD

40. Transit Networks and Placemaking
7 localities accessed directly
TOD?
CBD

41. Roadway vs. Transit Networks
Most forms of transit – but
not all –are dependent on
the roadway network

42. Roadway vs. Transit Networks
Surface transit
needs roadways
to access
potential riders

43. Roadway vs. Transit Networks
Potential riders
need streets and
sidewalks to
access transit

44. Roadway vs. Transit Networks
Connectivity and
Density of the
roadway network
are critical to
transit

45. Network Connectivity

46. Network Connectivity

48. Network Connectivity

49. Network Connectivity

50. Network Connectivity

51. Network Density
1/4 mile

52. Network Density

53. Network Density
1/2 mile

55. Conclusions
• Networks are unseen; understand
the big picture before tinkering with
the details
• Sustainable transit networks must
be enabling, efficient, fast, and
affordable

56. Conclusions
• To serve one principle activity node:
- Radial transit network is best
• To serve many dispersed activity
nodes:

57. Conclusions
• To serve one principle activity node:
- Radial transit network is best
• To serve many dispersed activity
nodes:
– Grid: frequent transit service in dense
areas with grid street system
– Hub-and-Spoke: for most other
situations

58. Conclusions
• Connectivity: connected streets
permit transit to reach riders and
riders to reach transit
• Density: streets suitable for transit
service should be spaced every
half mile to ensure an easy walk to
transit

59. Conclusions
• Intense activities should be located
near a transit network’s points of
confluence