Multimodal Transportation Centers

Multimodal transportation centers join all modes of transportation—automobiles, commuter trains, public transit, bicycles, and pedestrians—into a convenient hub. This setup makes it easier for commuters to use multiple modes. In the United States, most multimodal centers are built around rail lines.

Multimodal transportation centers attract users through design elements such as:

• Shops and restaurants.
• Adequate and attractive walkways, bike facilities, and vehicle access and parking.
• Appropriate bus facilities.
• Accessible platform areas for rail lines.

Executive Summary

Target Market

• Multimodal transportation centers work best in major attraction areas such as employment centers, art and cultural districts, and entertainment districts.
• Multimodal transportation centers attract and serve many different users. Onsite retail, service, and dining options attract local residents and commuters.

How Will This Help?

• Provides transportation options for all users, including non-drivers such as the elderly, adolescents, the disabled, and the transit dependent.
• Provides easy access to several transit modes, encouraging commuters to drive less often and reducing vehicle miles traveled.
• Enhances quality of life and creates a sense of community.
• Creates more opportunities for jobs and shopping, which affects the local economy.² 

Planning and Coordination
Coordinating different modes can be difficult. Each mode of transportation has unique traits and challenges. The Victoria Transport Policy Institute compiled a list of best practices for multimodal transportation center planning. Some of the practices include the following:

• Focus on joint systems, such as for networks, stations, user information, and fare payment. For example, integrated fare systems can be used across modes, such as bus and rail.
• Consider a variety of improvement options and mobility management strategies (e.g., pricing reforms and smart growth strategies).
• Consider major short-term and long-term impacts, including:
  • Congestion.
  • Roadway costs.
  • Parking costs.
  • Consumer costs.
  • Traffic accidents.
  • Quality of access for non-drivers.
  • Energy consumption.
  • Pollution emissions.
  • Equity
  • Physical fitness and health.
  • Land use development.
  • Community livability.
• Emphasize connectivity between modes, such as:
  • The quality and design of walkways, bicycle paths, and facilities (e.g., bicycle lockers and showers).
  • The general connectivity of the surrounding area (e.g., adequate parking, sidewalks, and bike lanes near the multimodal center).
• Design the space for quality as well as function, especially when considering Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.² 

Site Analysis: Determining and Assessing Needs
Several factors must be considered for determining the appropriate site for a multimodal center. These include:

• Access to transit—What is the demand for transit in a certain area/region? Are high-demand areas being properly serviced by transit?
• Land ownership and zoning—What current attractions exist in the area? Attractions include areas such as employment centers, educational facilities, and entertainment facilities.
• Proximity to residences—How accessible is the multimodal center to nearby residences?
• Other factors, including:
  • Infrastructure needs.
  • Time frame of the project.
  • Safety and security concerns.
  • Development potential of the surrounding area.⁴

Who Is Responsible?

Multimodal transportation centers can be developed in many different ways using federal, state, local, and even private funding. Transit agencies are often the lead sponsor of multimodal projects, partnering with local entities to serve the region. Stakeholder groups such as chambers of commerce play a large role because multimodal transportation centers tend to spur economic activity.

Project Time Frame

The project time frame varies based on the traits and scale of the project. Planning for a multimodal transportation center occurs well before construction. Some projects may require using public funds, which involves allowing time for public awareness campaigns, referendums, and voting.

Financing and acquiring the required right of way and land can be challenges throughout the planning process. Funding for large capital projects may be difficult to prioritize, even though funding sources at the federal, state, local, and even private level exist. Revenue from retail, dinging, or surrounding development may be used to offset the cost. Often, existing rail stations can be repurposed into multimodal transportation centers

Other implementation issues include marketing to the public, managing membership, staffing the facility, and pricing. Encouraging a shift from automobile use to alternative mobility choices requires constant marketing. Benefits to emphasize include saving money instead of using a private vehicle and having a positive impact on the environment.

Managing different transit memberships across transport modes can be difficult, but several cities have successfully done so. In Hong Kong, the Octopus Card allows users to connect to any of its service providers (e.g., from high-speed rail to light rail or bus services). Users can add money to their card online or at terminals. The Octopus Card also allows users to purchase food or other services from many retailers and restaurants.⁵

A transit agency has three basic options for staffing the facility. The multimodal center can be operated by the transit agency, a private entity, or a combination of both through a public-private partnership (PPP). PPPs tend to be the most feasible since they can reduce costs, lower risks, and improve competency.

Pricing is a large factor determined by local public attitudes. Paying for bicycle parking or vehicle parking can be established and adapted as demand for the facility grows.⁴

Travel demand modeling can provide helpful data for future regional needs. Modeling data include:

• Population demographics.
• Population projections.
• Major employment centers (attractions).
• Transportation networks (including the location of major corridors and available transit routes).

Data useful for planning a new center include information on:

• Transit ridership.
• Land use.
• Travel locations.
• Demographics and usage rates for existing facilities that share similar characteristics to the proposed center, including the age of passengers and use of amenities such as bike racks and lockers.⁴