Topic: Cincinnati Streetcar - Shelters Poll

[Civvik]

[Living in Gin]

Modern. If they adopted a Ye Olde Timey Streetcar Shelter theme, it would totally negate the whole "It's not a trolley" argument.

I like the one in the third pic above. Here's some more that I like:

[dmerkow]

I'm not a big fan of most modern shelters I've seen - they look grungy quickly, especially w/ Cincy's weather. I'd go for something to starts retro and heads modern rather than something fully retro or totally modern.

[Jimmy_James]

I'd like to see them vary by neighborhood.  Retro in OTR, modern downtown (similar to the entrance ways of the RTC on 2nd street), and a third design (doesn't matter if retro or modern) in Clifton.  Keep doing this as the streetcar system expands, giving riders the impression that they have gone further than they really have and contributing to the uniqueness of each part of town.

Also, I'm glad to see that the 300+ page Cincinnati streetcar thread has gotten a spinoff!

[Rob Jaques]

I'd like a classic design with modern amenities.

Something similar in style to the first of Civvik's pics but with amenities like those seen in Living in Gin's 2nd and 3rd pics.

And actually, in my studio this quarter, one of the things we are addressing with regard to designing a comprehensive fixed-rail system for the city is to embrace the uniqueness of each city neighborhood and give each neighborhood a unique station and stop design. While kind of over-the-top, we have also done some design work on unique streetcar designs for each neighborhood that would feed off a multi-modal station.

[Living in Gin]

^ Will your studio project be published online or otherwise available for public viewing? I'd be interested in checking it out.

[Civvik]

Good comments guys. I had been about how this could be an opportunity to underscore how historical and unique the neighborhood actually is. Maybe an opportunity for public art, or a contest to design Italianate-inspired shelters with the same flair as Paris' metro entrances. But, I also love the ultra-modern glass shelters. I can't decide!

I'd definitely go modern south of Central Parkway.

[Rob Jaques]

Once the quarter is over, all the stuff will be online. We are having some sort of presentation during finals week, but I don't know if it will be open to the public... Although I've heard that some city officials and John Schneider have been/will be invited.

[thomasbw]

SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DESIGN FEATURE OF THE STREETCAR SHELTER ASIDE FROM REPELING RAIN

Clearly state either "Riverfront" or "Uptown" or some iteration thereof

[thomasbw]

Also I think "contemporary" is a better choice than "modern"

[thomasbw]

Portland stop

[TraderJake]

Bilbao Stop. Got to love it.

[LincolnKennedy]

I'm not a big fan of most modern shelters I've seen - they look grungy quickly, especially w/ Cincy's weather. I'd go for something to starts retro and heads modern rather than something fully retro or totally modern.

SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DESIGN FEATURE OF THE STREETCAR SHELTER ASIDE FROM REPELLING RAIN

Clearly state either "Riverfront" or "Uptown" or some iteration thereof

dmerkow's got a pretty good point, and I think the key to making sure they don't get a tired look quickly is simply darker metal, or maybe ceramic, which would possibly allow for some interplay with our Rookwood heritage.

I actually think that it's a mistake to worry about keeping rain (or even sun) of people as the  point of the 'shelter'.  It should be an entryway, and one that encourages speed.  There are some things where you actually buy the ticket and put the ticket in before you get on the bus  (in Curitiba, Brazil I believe) and I'm under the impression it really speeds things up.

[KJP]

When I visit I would like to see retro shelters. They will always look retro. Modern won't look modern for long...

Even with a retro shelter it can have some modern amenities like "Next streetcar departs at...." LED scrolling signs that can also display messages about service disruptions and even throw an ad in there about upcoming events downtown.

[Gordon Bombay]

I think they should match the design of the transit center. The RTC entrances look sleek and nice. When they have them lit up during Reds games, they look really cool. Just wish the RTC was used for something.



I never understood why they never opened up the RTC for taxi service and bus service before and after games. If METRO and TANK ran service down there they could avoid the backups on Pete Rose Way and 2nd St for the most part.

[Civvik]

Also I think "contemporary" is a better choice than "modern"

I'm pretty sure this discussion pops up about once a month around here.

[moonloop]

and retro should be changed to "faux historic".

[Sherman Cahal]

I think that a design that imitates what we already have -- e.g. Government Square. It doesn't need to be extravagant or expensive. Something simple, basic will work and can look great.

[Loretto]

Welcome to the holodeck.


All I can think of when I see this is the holodeck interface arch from Star Trek: TNG.

[Eighth and State]

   
The best shelter is one that is integrated with the adjacent buildings. An example is the Chichita building downtown that has a covered bus stop incorporated into it.

[jacksparrow82]

I agree with ThomasBW in that the stops need to be clearly labeled and user friendly above all else.  I personally like more classic/historic looking stops as opposed to modern ones, but I'd be happy with anything as long as its clearly labeled, includes easy to purchase ticket booths, schedules clearly displayed, a map with the route and desitinations clearly displayed...These things are absolutely essential to making it a useful system that people will actually use, especially for those from out of town.  I think a big part of the reason the metro system is under-used here is because it lacks these basic components at the stops and on the internet.

[Sherman Cahal]

I liked the bus signage in Chicago -- at least in the loop, where, besides indicating the route number, it had the route map on a larger sign at every stop. While the bus route that I took wasn't a straight line and had many doglegs, at least it was better than nothing.

Something for that for the streetcar would be nice, although the route isn't in a straight line and has some awkward turns.

[Jimmy_James]

...I'd be happy with anything as long as its clearly labeled, includes easy to purchase ticket booths, schedules clearly displayed, a map with the route and desitinations clearly displayed...These things are absolutely essential to making it a useful system that people will actually use, especially for those from out of town...

I'd love to see each train outfitted with a GPS device, reporting it's current location to cell phone apps and to a screen at each streetcar stop.  That way you'd know for sure if you have time to run into that coffee shop before the streetcar arrives.

[Jskinner]

There was a high profile contest last year to design a bus stop, and some of the designs were excellent:

http://first.nextstopdesign.com/

I prefer this classical design, by a new urbanist: http://first.nextstopdesign.com/designs/88-Civic-Respite

[thomasbw]

...I'd be happy with anything as long as its clearly labeled, includes easy to purchase ticket booths, schedules clearly displayed, a map with the route and desitinations clearly displayed...These things are absolutely essential to making it a useful system that people will actually use, especially for those from out of town...

I'd love to see each train outfitted with a GPS device, reporting it's current location to cell phone apps and to a screen at each streetcar stop.  That way you'd know for sure if you have time to run into that coffee shop before the streetcar arrives.

That will likely happen

[Living in Gin]

The problem with retro/classical looking shelters is that they invariably look dated even faster than modern ones. Take the shelters on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, for example. I'm sure they were appropriately historicist when new, but now they look like something left over from an early 1990's South Florida outlet mall.



I agree about the GPS thing. If possible, the same system should be rolled out for the entire Metro and TANK bus system as well, along with a farecard payment system like that used in most other cities. It would be a huge step forward for public transit in the entire region, and allow the streetcar to be more fully integrated with the rest of the transit system.

[dmerkow]

Rules of thumb to avoid looking dated - avoid aquas and teals at all costs.

[KJP]

Rules of thumb to avoid looking dated - avoid aquas and teals at all costs.

Unless you live in Miami.   

[Civvik]

The problem with retro/classical looking shelters is that they invariably look dated even faster than modern ones. Take the shelters on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, for example. I'm sure they were appropriately historicist when new, but now they look like something left over from an early 1990's South Florida outlet mall.

I think it would be more accurate to say that this is the problem with badly designed classical looking shelters. Bad design is bad design!