Proposal for redesigning Panadura Bus Terminal- Sri Lanka

PANADURA BUS TERMINAL

• Location: In western coastal belt 27km south to the capital city, Colombo Along the Galle road

• Main ‘’A’’ routes – AA 02 (Colombo – Galle - Wellawaya) AA 08 (Panadura – Ratnapura) AB 27 (Old Colombo – Galle rd, Panadura)

• Current operations: In 3 main categoriesI. Local bus routes terminating at PanaduraII. Long distance bus routes terminating at PanaduraIII. Bus routes heading through Panadura to/from Colombo

Current bus routes under operations.• Local Bus routes

• Long distance and outer city bus routes

• Bus routes heading from/to Colombo through Panadura (as a transit point)

Key processes• Access• Loading• Unloading• Boarding• Alighting• Transfer

Boarding points

100 RoutePanadura - Colombo

462 Route &Mahabellana

450/5 RoutePanadura - Horana450 RoutePanadura - Ratnapura400/7 Route

Panadura - Kalutara

183 RoutePanadura - Nugegoda

Panadura – Railway station

17 RoutePanadura - Kandy

Aluthgama/ Mathugama/ Kalutara & Long distance buses

Alighting points

100 /183 RoutesColombo /Nugegoda

450 /(450/5) RoutesRatnapura /Horana

CTB buses/ Long distance buses

Kalutara/ Aluthgama/ Mathugama & Long distance buses

Waiting Points - Buses

A

B

Other Facilities• ATM facilities• Shopping mall• Taxi services• Over Head bridge with

escalator• Sanitary facilities

Major Issues Related To the Current Facility

-PANADURA BUS TERMINAL-

RELATED ISSUES

AccessibilityConnectivity

Supporting facilities

Communication

Safety

Organization of bus terminal

Organization of

functions

• Allocated space for the private bus stand is

currently not enough, so that some private

buses are not operating at the CTB stand.

–No proper place is allocated for Expressway buses.

Even though these buses are in good condition,

parking and other facilities provided by the bus

stand is not enough.

Ergonomics• Allocated space for the width of a queue is

not sufficient when comparing with the

international standards. A person with luggage will be uncomfortable with the provide space.

• Lack of seating facilities in CTB bus stand

where travellers should wait long hours

standing inside it while in private stand

there is no sufficient and comfortable seats

for the purpose.

• No facilities for differently abled people.

Both infrastructure and types of buses does

not cater the needs of these people.

Green concept• No proper way of disposing waste and drainage system.• Environmental pollution

Functionality of the bus terminal–Most of the buses are not operated according to

scheduled time tables.

• Some buses are parked idly until the next

turn

• Unloading of passengers by some buses are

done outside the bus stand which cause

congestion and accidents

• Passengers have to move through moving

buses in order to access buses.

Accessibility• Railway station is situated far from both CTB

and Private bus terminals( app 500m).

• Although there is a bus service operating

towards the railway station during peak

hours, existing facility is not enough.

• CTB and Private stands are in two different

locations and operate separately.

Connectivity–Railway station is situated about 500m away from both CTB

and private bus stands, so that the passengers have to switch

to another mode of transport in order to connect these two

services.

- There is a special bus service from railway station to bus

stands to overcome the inconvenience.

Supporting facilities• Although sanitary facilities and proper

drainage systems are available, they are not in usable conditions due to lack of maintenance.

• Whole environment is full of unhygienic

things like dirt, garbage and stray dogs.

• No specific place to dispose the waste materials

dumped inside and surrounding of the bus

stand.

• No proper shelter, during rainy days the inner

areas can be seen flooded in the CTB bus stand.

• No medical facilities are available at the

stand, even though stand is situated close

proximity to medical institutes in the town

like Panadura General hospital.

• No specific places to meet and greet. And

also waiting places are not sufficient.

Technological Implementations.

–No real time information service in both CTB and

private bus services.

–No new technological implications can be seen.

–Speakers which are used to communicate between

time keeping is a hindrance to passengers

–No sign boards to direct passengers

Communication Systems / Methods• No clear announcements in private stand.

• Announcements are given in only Sinhala

medium in CTB stand.

• No proper display of information about bus

routes and scheduled time.

• Although a few information displays are

available, their font sizes are hard to visible.

• Name boards containing route numbers and

the destination are not displayed for the

convenience of passengers and other users.

- A person who is visiting the bus terminal for

the first time will find difficult due to this.

Safety• Passengers are not alighted at specifically

allocated places by some buses. So

accidents can happen

• No pedestrian crossing in front of private stand.

• Private bus terminal is situated in a four-way

junction. It is very dangerous for the users

specially differently abled people.

- The time allocated for crossings is not

enough.

• Lack of proper maintenance of hazardous

and electrical equipment like wires.

SUGGESTIONS…

• Bus berth

Dimensions of bus station• Platform length

•Space should be allocated for infrastructure and the transition area•Station length should be sufficient to allow buses to safely and efficiently merge in to the traffic lane

length of longest bus * maximum number of buses expected to serve

• Platform widthto minimize conflicts between boarding and alighting passengers

• Platform heightthere are 3 types of platforms

standard curb level or near level boarding raised platform

• Space for services

service standards should be developed based on pedestrian space personal comfort degree of internal mobility

standards are presented in terms of average area per person average inter-personal space

• Determining required passenger waiting area

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS•Implementing ticket vending machine and modifying fare collection

•Introducing high technology buses

•Implementing digital displays

•Introducing online booking

EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS

• Merging CTB and private bus stand• Provision for short term pick ups and drop offs• Park and ride facilities for daily commuters• Implementing three lanes in front of the bus stand in order to reduce the traffic• The bus stop in front of the bus stand should be developed in to near side bus stop• Taxi service should be introduced with separate parking facilities

SAFETY & SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

• Implementing surveillance cameras• Availability of security services• Direction paths should be properly lighted and illumination

should be between 2 – 5 foot-candles• Providing back up power for safety lighting, communication

operations and safety sensitive equipment• Increasing night time security • Designing bus stand to ensuring clear visibility• Implementing active warning system for pedestrians

•Hazards, treats and vulnerability analysis should be done in order to increase the safety•Seating materials should be selected to discourages as sleeping facilities, and designed for ease of installation and repair•Implementing emergency evacuation procedure•Providing escape routes•Pedestrian circulation routes through bus stops and passenger waiting areas should not be blocked from view by walls or other structures

ENVIRONMENT

Drainage system should be repaired and maintained Trash cans should be placed in necessary spots and disposed dailyEnvironmentally sustainable materials and practicesReducing noise and vibrationsFollowing the green concept

ASTHETIC & CULTURAL ELEMENTS

Landscaping, street-scaping and public art should be implemented

Low maintenance plantsIrrigation systemTraditional architectural elements of the area should be consideredcultural, archeological and historical values of the area should be considered

SOCIAL INCLUSIVENESS

Low floor buses should be introduced and it will help differently abled people to travel easilyStation infrastructure should be made according to the height of the busesProviding rest rooms for bus drivers and conductors especially in long distance buses

INFORMATION

Passenger information about procedures should be includedStatic - Permanent signs, maps and direction pathsvariable - printed information about routes and

servicesreal time - information which provides current

information and emergency conditionsAnnouncements about bus arrival and departure should be providedProvide information in all three languages

PASSENGER WAITING AREA

More waiting and seating facilitiesImplementing weather shelters and it must be designed considering passenger safety, passenger comfort, functional similarity and ease of maintenanceProviding wi-fi facilities, news paper boxes

PASSENGER FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE

Improving sanitary facilities and cleaning regularlyThere should be an on call doctor to provide medical facilitiesBus stand should be maintained properly (at least once a week)Implementing special station markings with directional paths for different station functions

WORK WITH CONSTRAINTS• Land

Land should be purchased from public• Funds

To construct facilities Sri Lankan firms should be usedGovernment can fund for the projectPrivate investments

• TimeNight time constructions

FINAL DESIGN

Sawtooth or angle berthMerging CTB & private stands

REFERENCES• Bus stop design standards and guidelines,draft april 2015, prepared by the city of

fort Collins• Riverside transit agency Design guidelines- August 2004• Bus rapid transit stations, APTA bus rapid transit working group, Washigton DC