Light rail project releases station plans
Preliminary concept designs in place
January 21, 2015
The Southwest light rail project is moving forward again following the release of plans that explain station design and other features of the route.
Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) released preliminary plans detailing potential station designs for the 17 proposed station sites, including information about safety and accessibility.
Laura Baenen, communications manager for SWLRT, said a major goal when creating the plans was to have similarities between these new light rail stations and previously constructed ones on other lines.
“We want to have some consistency so riders, whether they are out of town visitors or infrequent users, recognize that this is a light rail station,” Baenen said. “But we (also) want to have enough flexibility in the designs so there is some individuality to them.”
Certain station furnishings such as ticket vending machines are consistent throughout to help increase accessibility, according to Baenen.
“It really helps everybody to not have every station just be so unique,” Baenen said. “It’s a balance we’re looking for here.”
Baenen also said the plans include four station types: landmark, town square, neighborhood, and landscape. A committee will assign these prototypes to station locations later in 2015 after further review.
“Some of the station locations are going to be really highly visible, they might be at a busy crossroads and you want them to stand out,” Baenen said. “Then there’s other stations that you don’t want to overwhelm the location, maybe it’s a residential area and you want it to blend in but yet be identifiable.”
SWLRT is holding meetings with mayors, council members, and other public officials along the route to start determining which station prototypes will go at what site. These meetings are open to the public and are posted online as well.
According to Baenen, these plans are still in the very early stages, and more detailed information will be available to the public later this year.
“There are a lot of details that need to be fleshed out in addition to figuring out which station prototype are going to be built where,” Baenen said. “But that will be a public process and there will be updates.”
To learn more and sign up for updates, visit swlrt.org.
