Transit Design Guide

Elevated Stations
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Existing Guidance
3.0 Objectives
4.0 Design Guidance

City of Toronto
Transit Design Guide

Acknowledgements:
Access Planning
Figure 1: Lansdowne Station, Canada Line, Vancouver
Perkins&Will (Photo Credit: Perkins&&Will)
 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definition
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

An elevated station is the access point from the street to the • Adjacency to other corridors such as highways, rail tracks,
platform for an elevated transit line, including rail, light rail or or natural features such as ravines or linear parks
bus, and it is where passengers board or alight transit vehicles.
The elevated station area encompasses the full site on which The components of an elevated station are:
the station is located, from the station approach to the platform.
• Vertical Circulation (Stairs, Elevators): The vertical
infrastructure that brings passengers from the public realm
A series of factors influence the layout and resulting station
at grade (or adjacent buildings, if applicable) to the transit
type, including:
platform along a guideway.
• Alignment of station site and guideways within the block
• Station Approach (Pathways, Cycle Tracks): The horizontal
structure and adjacent streets
infrastructure that creates access to the elevated station
• Connections to other transit facilities from surrounding streets, sidewalks, and cycle tracks.

• Potential integration with Transit-Oriented Development

(TOD)

Ticketing
Shelter and faregates

Canopy Guideway
Stairs to Wind Screen
platform
Platform
TOD
site

Elevators

Station
approach

Underpass
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Figure 2: Diagram depicting the various components of a typical elevated station, Gilmore SkyTrain Station (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

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 Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE
• Canopy, Wind Screen and Shelter: The elements that
provide weather protection for passengers, shade and
shelter passengers waiting and/or travelling to the elevated
station.

• Station Plaza: The station approach, entrances, and plaza

are critical pieces of the public realm to facilitate intermodal
transportation, organize ancillary elements, buildings and
utilities, and encourage intuitive wayfinding.

• TOD Site: The developable areas above or beside stations.

These sites provide direct and convenient connections
between areas of living/working to public transportation.

• Underpass: Unique to elevated transit typologies, the

underpass is the space beneath the elevated infrastructure.
These become critical areas for facilitating an inviting and
safe public realm, and provide visibility and permeability.

• Station Entrance: A weather-protected threshold between

paid and non-paid areas that are facilitated by ticketing
areas or fare gate equipment

• Platform: The area adjacent to the guideway where transit

passengers wait for, and disembark from transit vehicles,
located at the top level of elevated stations

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 1.2 Areas of Influence
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

In the context of elevated stations, the areas of influence can be where they interface with development and/or the public realm.
defined as follows: This zone also extends into the public realm at street level,
such as a station plaza, for example. The Guide will inform
Zone 1: Includes the local context in which the station the relationships between the station infrastructure and the
is situated, including surrounding properties that will be surrounding public realm, with regard to fit with local context.
physically impacted by the station and related to its surrounding
infrastructure. This also includes parking, passenger pick- Zone 3: Includes internal station functions and amenities
up and drop-off (PPUDO) and public/private access roads such as fare gates, ticket machines and washrooms. This will
to the station. Decisions for this zone are important, and also include the operational transit infrastructure components
early consideration made during the delivery of this transit within the station, such as the track itself, power systems, and
infrastructure, must ensure existing or future transit-oriented platforms. This zone is generally outside of the scope of these
development or other public amenities are secured. guidelines. The Guide includes recommendations on how the
overall station’s built form and aesthetics shall be considered
Zone 2: Includes the exterior station structure, materials and and designed.
transparency, including the building itself and exteriors of
circulation elements such as elevators, bridges, and stairs –

ZONE 2

ZONE 3

ZONE 1
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Figure 3: Annotated diagram depicting how the areas of influence apply to elevated stations (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

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1.3 Applications of Elevated Stations

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

Elevated stations are generally composed of a combination of the following characteristics.

Elevated Guideway or Embankment:

Figure 4: Burquitlam Station, Evergreen Line, Coquitlam (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will) Figure 5: Middle Gorge Station, Mernda Rail Extension 2, Victoria, Australia (Photo Credit:
Level Crossing Removal Project)

Elevated Guideway
Embankment
This application refers to transit lines where, due to the
This application refers to stations that are located on an
alignment of an elevated guideway, results in an elevated
artificially raised section of terrain. Due to the landscape and
station to provide access from the ground level, up to the
topography, this often results in limited opportunities for
platform. This creates a clear public realm below the guideway
crossings and the creation of retaining walls.
and station, where secondary uses such as service access or
ancillary buildings can be located.

Side or Centre Running

Figure 6: Burquitlam Station, Evergreen Line, Coquitlam (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will) Figure 7: Metrotown Skytrain Station, Burnaby (Photo Credit: VIA Architecture)

Side-Running Centre-Running
This application refers to stations on elevated guideways that This application refers stations on elevated guideways that run
run alongside the roadway, limiting the station and platform in the centre of roadways, resulting in elevated stations that
access from one side of an intersection. provide access from the median (typically in wider rights-of-
ways) or rely on a concourse that bridges the street.

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 Centre or Side Platforms:
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

Figure 8: Main Street-Science World Station, Vancouver (Photo Credit: VIA Architecture) Figure 9: Brentwood Station on the Millennium Line, Burnaby (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

Centre Platform Side Platform

This application refers to elevated stations that serve transit This application refers to elevated stations that serve transit
stops with a centre platform. These often occur at terminals stops with a side platform, application for in-line stations (i.e.,
(end of line) or interchange stations. This orientation requires not a terminal or interchange station). In this typology, the
centrally located stair(s) and elevator(s). As platform edge platform is served by accesses and vertical circulation along the
doors are in-board, guideways are often more visually side of the guideway. This makes elements such as stairs and
prominent in this typology and will require careful consideration wind screens more prominent from the public realm and the
of materiality and interface with the public realm. rest of the neighbourhood.

Location along the Transit Route:

Line
This application refers to elevated stations that are located in-line along a transit route. These typically serve lower volumes and are
therefore more neighborhood-scaled.

Figure 10: Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line Station is a terminus station with a bus terminal Figure 11: Conceptual cross-sectional rendering of Broadway-City Hall station's interchange
(Photo Credit: Express691, CPTDB) between Millennium Line and Canada Line, Vancouver (Photo Credit: Government of BC)

Terminus Interchange
This application refers to elevated stations at the ends of transit This application refers to interchange stations, where the
lines. These are often centre-platform stations, with additional elevated transit line intersects with another higher-order
infrastructure such as pedestrian bridges or tunnels to support transit route. These stations often facilitate transfers between
connections to other modes like a local bus transfer facility or large volumes of passengers. This may result in multiple
CITY OF TORONTO

passenger pick-up drop-off (PPUDO). Elevated station layout is grade changes (e.g., transferring from elevated guideway to
critical at terminus stations, especially for wayfinding and mode underground subway) and require critical consideration of
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switching. internal layouts, interfaces with public realm and wayfinding.

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 1.4 Typical Project Delivery

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

Design
Development /
Strategic Master Planning Environmental Pre-procurement
Planning / and Preliminary Assessment / City Capital Works Contract Maintenance and
Business Case Design TPAP Coordination Procurement Administration Operations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Figure 12: The typical delivery process for transit infrastructure

Elevated stations maintain a prominent place within the public Elevated systems including station buildings are typically
realm (when compared to underground or at-grade stations), delivered as one part of an overarching transit line project, such
and the decision to proceed with an elevated alignment is as a P3 Procurement process. Under these circumstances, it is
often made during the early planning stages, such as the expected that:
Strategic Planning/Business Case or Master Planning
• The transit agency delivering the project should produce
stages. As civic buildings, it is important that elevated stations
project-specific guidance documents that address
demonstrate design excellence and well-integrated design that
overall cohesion of the design and ensure continuity in
will become the signature for the entire network. However,
identity throughout the transit line, applicable to both the
each station is situated in a unique context and should adapt
architectural language of the station buildings and the
to its context accordingly in relation to in layout, materiality
surrounding plaza, landscaping, and wayfinding. These
and scale. Because of this, it is necessary that the evaluation
documents should be part of the procurement documents.
criteria developed for any Business Case Assessment or
Environmental Impact Analysis takes into consideration all • City of Toronto staff should participate in the preparation of
the benefits and drawbacks of an elevated system. This should the procurement documents and provide input as per the
include the cost of delivering a high-quality building, the guidelines included in this document.
investment in the public realm design to integrate the structure
to its surrounding plaza/public realm, as well as the additional • Other relevant stakeholders include emergency services as
operational costs involved in maintaining the associated spaces. special evacuation conditions and access considerations will
apply given the elevated nature of the infrastructure.

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 2.0 EXISTING GUIDANCE
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

There is extensive guidance in existing documents regarding • Metrolinx LRT Design Criteria Manual, B7.3.2: Includes
transit stations with this Guide providing additional guidance direction on where transit plazas should be provided to
for elevated stations within the urban context. Other documents enhance the user experience.
speak to individual elements (e.g., TOD, Passenger Pick up and
• City of Toronto Official Plan, 3.1.1.5: New policies on
Drop off, Station Plazas, etc.) which may be read in conjunction
publicly accessible transit infrastructure proposed to ensure
with this guidance as part of the overall station site.
they fit with existing and planned context, ensure integration
The following is a non-exhaustive, illustrative list of existing and connectivity with transit, cycling and pedestrian
guidance and requirements that should be read together with networks.
this Guide.
• City of Toronto Official Plan, 4.3.3: Development within
• TTC Design Manual, DM-0401-04 General Criteria Parks and Open Space Areas is intended to have only
Design Guidelines& Internal Space Organization: Site minimal adverse impacts on natural features and functions,
development guidelines correspond to urban integration and those areas are to be restored and enhanced including
objectives, this Guide helps to apply these requirements existing vegetation and other natural heritage features
specifically to an elevated condition. Also provides design
• City of Toronto Official Plan, 3.1.X: Public realm policies
requirements for transit station interior spaces.
for higher-order transit propose requiring transit stations
• MTO Transit Supportive Guidelines, 1.1.1.7: Transit stops and ancillary infrastructure to provide high-quality
should support neighbouring active, street level shops and architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design.
services to provide easier access and promote pedestrian Ancillary elements located, organized and designed to be
activity. Transit station areas should host active, street-level contextually responsive and limit impacts to public realm
shops and services to provide easier access and promote and adjacent property.
pedestrian activity, meeting integration and placemaking
• TTC Design Manual, DM-0303-01 Elevated Structures:
objectives.
Aesthetic considerations inform the guideway form and
• MTO Transit Supportive Guidelines, 2.3.1 Location and impact structural design process. No prescribed form;
Design of Transit Stops: emphasizing how location and direction to minimize the massiveness of the guideway.
orientation influences accessibility and enhances user
• TTC Design Manual, DM-0409-TC Materials: Full guidance
comfort; 2.3.1.12 encourages integration of stops / shelters
provided on lifecycle and maintenance considerations.
with local development.
• Toronto Green Standards, version 4: Requires 75% non-
• Metrolinx Mobility Hub Guidelines 1.1 Seamless
roof hardscape to reduce heat island, native plants, and
Integration of Modes: Achievable with reduced station
green roof / cool roof measures.
footprint sizes resulting from only considering off-street
terminals when multiple routes involved, and prescribing a
Most of the existing guidance for elevated stations relate
central service platform to facilitate transfer.
to the objectives of Urban Integration, User Experience,
• Metrolinx Design Requirements Manual, D.2 Rail Sustainability and Resilience, and Accountability. There
Platform Access: Encourages tunnel connection to are aspects of elevated stations that require additional detail,
community uses when possible and integration to station such as the public realm surrounding the station, grade
building. relationships, or Intermodal Operations as it relates to mode
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transfers and multi-modal systems.

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3.0 OBJECTIVES

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

Elevated stations provide communities with access to the
broader transit network and are important civic landmarks and
community hubs in a city.
Intermodal Operations
From a transportation operations perspective, the design
of elevated stations must facilitate safe and efficient transit
Urban Integration operations through the station location, and ensure safety
for both vehicles and passengers, in particular to emergency
Elevated stations should integrate with the existing and planned
procedures. Elevated stations should facilitate easy access to
urban context, and take advantage of the physical infrastructure
surface transit and active transportation networks.
to create a sense of place within the public realm. They should
be planned and designed to enable future development and/
or public infrastructure that is integrated with, or physically
connected to the station infrastructure.

Accountability
Elevated station design should consider the entire lifecycle,
use of materials and construction methods that account for
User Experience whole life cost, and foresee the need to accommodate new
transit lines, improved service, changes in capacity and new
Elevated stations should create an interesting, safe and
technology. Importantly, the siting, massing and design of
accessible experience within the station and surrounding
elevated stations should facilitate future overbuild, secondary
public realm. A positive and delightful user experience should
transit entrances and/or active TOD frontages.
encourage transit use within the community.

Sustainability & Resilience

Elevated stations should be sustainably designed with low-
carbon materials, optimize use of green infrastructure, and
have increased resilience to climate change.

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 4.0 DESIGN GUIDANCE
Urban Integration

4.1 Urban Integration

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

1. Design elevated stations to occupy a compact footprint. 12. Support safe occasional service vehicle uses in multi-
functional transit plazas without creating an auto-centric
2. Orient primary station entrances to the main intersection environment, through design strategies such as mountable
for ease of access and highest visibility from surrounding curbs in less visible areas.
areas. If the station is not located at an intersection, orient
entrances to the main street or major destination. 13. Respond to the physical context of the local neighbourhood
(e.g., heritage, architectural style, materiality) while
3. Design the site to allow for future TOD, when transit maintaining line-wide identity. For example, use creative
infrastructure is developed first. Locate and design the interpretive signage or elements highlighting local cultural,
station to allow for future development integration, such as heritage, or natural features.
overbuild and knock-out panels.
14. Separate or conceal back-of-house, non-public spaces
4. Design and locate the station to protect for future TOD such as mechanical/electrical services, station employee
design elements such as entrance doors, landscaped offices or staff washrooms from the public realm (e.g.,
setbacks, access to lobbies, below-grade parking, loading away from pedestrian areas, rear of station buildings, or
and servicing, moving rooms, bike parking, and active uses below-grade).
at grade.

5. Ensure direct pedestrian connections from TOD to station

accesses, while also limiting changes in grade.

6. Locate and design the station to maximize space in the

public realm, for example to provide a transit plaza.

7. Design the station building to allow for permeability,

especially on a longer frontage where active uses such as
retail may be located.

8. Co-locate the transit station with a transit plaza to support

multi-modal interchanges and provide places for people to
Figure 13: Surrey Central Skytrain Station at night, with lighting to enhance the public realm
rest, wait, or move through. and offer feelings of comfort and safety, Surrey (Photo Credit: Office of McFarlane Biggar)

9. Connect local institutions or community uses to the station

to contribute to the overall use and civic function of the
site.

10. Preserve, protect, and enhance parks and natural features

and functions.

11. Limit curb cuts to access service functions along frontages

and locate for service areas in the rear of the site.
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Figure 14: Surrey Central Skytrain Station, Surrey (Photo Credit: Office of McFarlane Biggar)

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 Urban Integration

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

15. Integrate station service and ancillary spaces within the amenities and integrate them into stations where possible
station. Where this is not possible, incorporate screening to leave plaza space open and unobstructed to maximize
and/or acoustic mitigation to ensure service equipment is pedestrian flow.
not visible or audible from the public realm.
22. Locate covered bike parking and bike share stations in a
16. Create service lane conditions that both the station and new convenient and accessible location near station entrances.
development(s) back onto, where station buildings take up Integrate bike parking close to entrances as a part of
an entire block. the building structure, avoiding separate structures and
ancillary structures.
17. Ensure architectural prominence of the station building in
ways other than increasing scale so that it is identifiable 23. Clearly define the pedestrian realm and transit plaza
from the surrounding public realm. through unique landscaping, paving, lighting, and signage.

18. Integrate the underside of the guideway into the 24. Coordinate the design of station plazas along the same
architectural expression at locations where it interfaces transit line to create a consistent visual language.
directly with the elevated stations and surrounding public
25. Ensure standalone pedestrian amenities such as benches or
realm.
light fixtures do not interfere with pedestrian circulation.
19. Integrate signature features that serve a function into the
26. Provide a generous horizontal setback between the curb
design of the stations for wayfinding and identity.
and elevated station façade to accommodate:
20. Follow CPTED principles when planning stations and avoid
a. The elements of a complete street within the ROW,
creating dark corners or recessed areas.
including street tree planting, landscaping, cycle tracks
21. Provide pedestrian amenities (e.g., seating, lighting, trash and wide pedestrian clearways; and
receptacles, wayfinding signage, benches, etc.) along main
b. Transit plaza(s) that are minimum of 5m deep (from
paths of travel and around the main station entrance and
property line) and 10m wide, located at the entrance to
frontage. Ensure pedestrian amenities are highly visible
the station.
but secondary to station amenities such as ticket vending
machines, station signage, and the fare equipment. Group 27. Ensure proper soil volumes for trees and that planted areas
provide an environment for viable, mature tree growth.

Figure 15: Main Street-Science World Skytrain secure bicycle parking area (Photo Credit: Figure 16: McLean Station with bike parking and pedestrian amenities directly by station
VIA Architecture) entrance and vertical circulation (Photo Credit: PlanItMetro)

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 User Experience

4.2 User Experience

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

1. Ensure the primary entrance to the station is barrier-free, pedestrian touch points such as fare equipment, furniture,
rather than a secondary, accessible entrance that may be and signage to provide recognizable cues and reduced
provided in a less visible or direct location. visual clutter.

2. Clearly delineate pathways between entrances and transit 8. Coordinate station wayfinding with other City signage
platforms, to create a direct and inviting journey from standards (e.g. Parks, TO360).
station plaza to the platform.
9. Ensure lighting and furniture layouts consider projected
3. Avoid multiple grade changes and switchbacks, prioritizing passenger flow volumes to prevent crowding.
clear, direct, paths of travel.
10. Provide seating to support people near station entrances
4. Streamline and consolidate vertical structural elements and waiting at PPUDOs.
to allow for more open floorplates to improve pedestrian
11. Locate pedestrian lighting along pedestrian paths of travel
movement and visibility.

5. Design, locate, and/or orient station buildings to mitigate

micro-climatic impacts, using canopies and windscreens as
supplementary measures.

6. Develop a visual hierarchy where signage and passenger

information are more prominent and visible than
advertising and operational signage, to improve station
navigation.

7. Extend wayfinding principles to architectural design

treatments such as material, colour, and lighting and

Figure 18: Gilmore SkyTrain station has high transparency, also encouraging transit use
through accessibility and safety (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

Figure 17: Conceptual rendering of elevated station as part of Réseau express métropolitain
rail network, Montréal (Photo Credit: REM)
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Figure 19: Architectural expression and materiality can create a signature and unique
design, shaped by local context (Photo Credit: Wade Zimmerman)
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Case Study
Brentwood Station – SkyTrain, Burnaby, British
Columbia User Experience

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

As part of the Millennium Line, Brentwood Station to support intuitive wayfinding.
was designed to be a marquee and signature station,
12. Provide weather protection along primary pedestrian
leveraging its highly visible location on a hillside to
circulation paths and waiting areas.
become an inviting "beacon". More than its aesthetic
excellence and elegance in form, the station was also 13. Provide protected spaces for cyclists/pedestrians at key
designed to be environmentally responsible. The form mixing or crossing zones to create a safe and seamless
allows for natural ventilation and reduced lighting loads, public realm.
carefully-chosen materials reduces CO2 in production,
14. Provide end of trip facilities that can offer safe storage of
and reclaimed wood and steel reduce transportation
personal gear/equipment (e.g. secure bike parking) or safe
loads. The building itself also touches minimally on the
spaces within the station for lockers, etc.
ground, creating a light and appealing structure.
15. In a natural or heritage context, creative interpretative
signage describing the natural or heritage value or interest
should be considered.

16. Integrate public art at stations, plazas, and/or adjacent

guideways. Ensure public art is visible to pedestrians but
does not impede pedestrian flow or station and guideway
maintenance and operations.

Figure 20: Illustration demonstrating natural ventilation impacts on Brentwood 17. Locate public art in areas that accommodate queuing,
Station (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)
slower passenger movement, and limit visual clutter near
signage and wayfinding.

Figure 21: Lighting of the station building enhances its prominence in the local
context (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

Figure 23: Vaughan Metropolitan Station demonstrates architectural excellence, with

Figure 22: The warm glow of the wood and lighting allows the station to be highly pedestrian-scaled considerations such as bike parking and weather protection (Photo
visible above the highway (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will) Credit: Shai Gil)

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 Sustainability & Intermodal Accountability
Resilience Operations
4.3 Sustainability and Resilience
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

1. Integrate sustainable design and climate resilience

4.5 Accountability
strategies with a focus on energy efficiency, natural
lighting, passive ventilation, cooling and heating and
stormwater management. 1. Maintenance boundaries of transit facilities at-grade should
be made clear to all parties involved and can be integrated
2. Implement green walls and green roofs into the station into the physical design of stations, through features,
design. treatments and finishes.
3. Study and integrate renewable energy at stations. Ensure 2. Invest in high-quality materials and treatments to mitigate
renewable energy is serviceable and does not interfere with noise, vibration, and exposure to de-icing chemicals to
station operations and maintenance. provide an attractive, safe and comfortable public realm.
4. Use photovoltaic panels in platform canopies, wind 3. Coordinate materials and maintenance where station
screens, or glass enclosures. is adjacent to, or crosses property lines/jurisdictional
5. Consider solar heat gain when designing vertical circulation responsibilities.
elements and integrate shading devices in ways to reduce 4. Future-proof for connections to other pedestrian areas,
need for mechanical ventilation. public amenities, or future extensions of the transit line,
6. Promote and maintain a high-quality ecosystem including including planned TOD and other development.
a mature tree canopy as part of the landscaping around the
station.

4.4 Intermodal Operations

1. Provide flexible space in station drop-off and pick-up

zones for ride-share and emerging technologies such as
autonomous vehicles, while maintaining pedestrian priority
Figure 24: Victoria Park Subway Station and Bus Terminal with rooftop landscaping (Photo
and safety in and around the station. Credit: Forrec)

2. Consolidate accesses to eliminate redundancies and

enhance ease of passenger navigation.

3. Limit impact of operations-related services (e.g., staff

parking, servicing, emergency generators, etc.) on the
public realm by locating these in discrete, consolidated
location(s).
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Case Study
Evergreen Line Stations – Coquitlam, British Columbia

Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

The Evergreen Line is an 11km long extension of the Millennium Line of Metro Vancouver’s SkyTrain rapid transit system,
delivered via P3 procurement. The stations are designed intentionally and thoughtfully as a family, united by architectural
structure, glazing, wayfinding and its timber roof elements. Due to its context, local considerations were integrated such
as weather protection and providing visual warmth through the wood in the roof deck. Intuitive wayfinding is achieved by
transparency and the use of glass, consistent signage, and its integration into the local context. User comfort is ensured
through a generous plaza space with landscaping, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, and amenities such as bike parking.

Figure 25: Burquitlam Station in the winter, where considerations for snow accumulation have Figure 26: Burquitlam Station utilizes key identifiers so users can easily navigate
been made to not interfere with travel paths (Photo Credits: Perkins&Will) from station plaza all the way to transit vehicle and platform (Photo Credits:
Perkins&Will)

Figure 27: Lincoln Station demonstrating the slender profile of the station building, while emphasizing its position as a local landmark (Photo Credits: Perkins&Will)

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 4.6 Applications Specific Guidance
Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE

The guidelines below are specific to the individual applications Line Station
and to be applied in addition to the general guidelines above.
8. Future-proof line stations to potentially adapt to serving a
Guideway different role (i.e., a future interchange station).

1. Protect and enhance views through the station, as Terminal Station

permeability will ensure that these structures feel visually
9. Future-proof adjacent lands to best serve current
light and inviting.
transportation demands (e.g., surface parking that
Embankment can seamlessly transition into a bus facility or TOD;
increasing waiting areas for carshare; etc.), as terminal
2. Facilitate safe and direct crossings, with regard for barriers stations potentially serve a larger catchment area, without
that may be created by retaining walls. sacrificing the design or function of the public realm.

3. Consider the relationship of the station to the surrounding 10. Future proof terminal stations for future extensions of the
topography and where vertical circulation structures can be transit line.
located in order to maintain universal accessibility, reduce
structures, and promote a positive user experience by Interchange Station
maximizing natural light and/or views to key destinations.
11. Minimize vertical travel distances between transit lines.
Side-Running / Side-Platforms 12. Site new stations platforms to facilitate even distribution of
4. Ensure that safe and appropriately sized pedestrian passengers to avoid over-crowding at vertical circulation,
crossings are provided to all corners of the intersection/ entrances and/or vehicle doors.
sides of the street, as all of the pedestrian access is
concentrated on one side or corner of an intersection.

5. Create obvious and intuitive points of crossing from the

side of the intersection where the station is not located

6. Locate station buildings on the side of the street where

intermodal transfers can be most efficiently made.

Centre-Running / Centre-Platforms

7. Mitigate visual bulk created by multiple bridges or vertical

circulation structures.
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 Elevated Stations | TRANSIT DESIGN GUIDE
Figure 28: Gilmore SkyTrain station has high transparency, also encouraging transit use through accessibility and safety (Photo
Credit: Perkins&Will)

Figure 29: Brentwood Town Centre station involved extra design work to reflect its visually prominent position along a highway
and incorporated a mezzanine level to facilitate pedestrian movements through the neighbourhood. The station also provides a
pedestrian bridge connection to the commercial and residential development at the concourse level (Photo Credit: Perkins&Will)

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