JOIN USPedestrians to be pivot of Metro accessibility plan
With Reach-1 of Namma Metro’s Phase-1 line –– the 6.7-km-long stretch from Baiyappanahalli to MG Road –– nearing two years of operations, the State government is busy preparing an accessibility plan (2013-2021) with Namma Metro and the citizen as its fulcrum.
The Station Accessibility Plan, being prepared by Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT), within the overall framework of National Urban Transport Policy, 2006 (NUTP), according to sources, aims at bringing equitable allocation of road space to people with emphasis on encouraging greater use of public transport and non-motorised modes.
“At City level, the findings of Comprehensive Traffic & Transport Plan, 2007 will be kept in mind, especially the decline in public transport share over the last two decades and the overall inadequate and unmaintained footpath infrastructure,” sources said.
According to urban land transport department’s request for proposal tender inviting consultants, the plan will be worked around 10 Metro stations initially: Jalahalli, Peenya industry Metro station, Peenya Metro station, Yeshwantpur industry Metro station, Yeshwantpur Metro station, Sandal Soap Factory station, Mahalakshmi Metro station, Rajajinagar Metro station, Kuvempu Road station and Srirampura station.
Observing that travel patterns in each neighbourhood around the Metro station are characterised by their land uses, densities, built-up area and urban fabric, sources said the plan will conceptualise each station area node as a transit precinct with development control regulations encouraging integration of land use, urban form and transit.
Distinct character
“The plan, therefore, has to identify the distinct character of each area, their distinct travel patterns with focus on pedestrians and bicyclists and propose interventions to address their specific context,” they said, citing areas of Metro’s Reach-1 as examples.
Study area
The study area, sources said, will not be less than 750 metres around each Metro station.
“It will follow road or property lines. If major economic / social generators and environmental features are adjoining it and likely to impact Metro station access, then, these would be included within the area boundary,” they added.
While the core area will be 150 metres around the station, most affected by movement of people, vehicles and activity, the buffer area is the larger feeder area to Metro stations. It is generally delineated based on a 10-15 minute walking distance, that is, 500-750 metres, sources said, adding an accurate computer-aided drafting-based map with satellite images and City survey sheets will be prepared after the areas are defined based on aforementioned parameters.
Specific Goals
* Ensure seamless connectivity between Metro and other modes of transport
* Improve non-motorised
access to Metro stations
* Improve non-motorised
access within the area around Metro stations
* Propose development control regulations to facilitate transit oriented development and non-motorised access