KALAMAZOO AREA

BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

October 2018
2 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

CONTENTS
Executive Summary .....................................................................................................4

Study Overview ................................................................................................................6

Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................8

Recommendations.........................................................................................................16

Appendix A..........................................................................................................................62

Appendix B..........................................................................................................................64

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Central County Transportation Authority Board Metro Staff
Greg Rosine, Chairperson Sean McBride, Executive Director
Garrylee McCormick, Vice-Chair Kathy Schultz, Planning and Development Manager
Curtis Aardema Colton Hutson
Rob Bicker
Consultant Team
Robert D. Britigan III
Nelson\Nygaard: James Gamez, Peter Soderberg, Dan Sommerville
Chris Burns
DLZ: Stephen Metzer, Jason T. Whitten
Dusty Farmer
Martin Janssen
Nicolette Leigh
Jim Pearson
Randy Thompson

Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority Board

Greg Rosine, Chairperson
Martin Janssen, Vice-Chairperson
Curtis Aardema
Jeffrey Breneman
Pamela Brown Goodacre
John Dillworth Disclaimer: “The preparation of this report has been financed in part through
grant(s) from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit
Dusty Farmer Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, under the Metropolitan
Timothy Sloan Planning Program, Section 104(f) of Title 23, U.S. Code. The contents of
this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S.
Sam Urban Department of Transportation.

Metro
4 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Metro’s bus system currently has over 750 bus
stops serving the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage,
and Parchment, as well as the townships of
Comstock, Kalamazoo, Oshtemo, and Texas.
Overtime, as new bus stops are added to the
system, stops may become highly concentrated,
requiring buses to stop too frequently and
reducing the average speed of the service.
The Kalamazoo Area Bus Stop Action Plan
assesses the existing conditions of the Metro
system including how well transit demand is
being met, stop-level ridership, stop spacing, bus capital improvements and financing over a five
stop amenities, and sidewalk connectivity.
Recommendations are based on current
ridership, existing stop spacing, amenities, and
passenger safety.
In addition to stop spacing recommendations,
the Action Plan also makes recommendations for
amenities improvements including new signage,
shelters, benches, concrete pads, crosswalks, and
sidewalks.
These recommendations are incorporated into a
five phase implementation plan which prioritizes
year period.

This assessment was used to develop The Action Plan also makes recommendations
recommendations in order to improve operating about future bus stop design guidelines including
efficiency, passenger safety, and the customer stop spacing, stop placement, stop engineering,
experience by improving stop spacing, and the design of bus stop amenities.
identifying guidelines for stop placement, and
recommending specific amenities improvements.
Of the existing 768 bus stops, it is recommended
that 518 be retained, 54 be relocated, and
196 be removed. An additional 88 stops are
recommended to be added to the system for a
total of 660 stops, representing a 16% reduction.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 5

Sidewalk connectivity is important

for attracting riders and maintaining
a safe environment.

Metro
6 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

1 STUDY OVERVIEW
The Kalamazoo Area Bus Stop Action Plan builds
upon Metro’s 2014 bus stop inventory, which
determined that only 7% of stops were compliant
with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
accessible design standards.
The primary objective of the Bus Stop Action
Plan is to improve rider experience, operational
efficiency, and passenger safety. The action plan
includes a series of recommendations, including:
• Changes to bus stop locations
• Improved bus stop amenities and signage
• Pedestrian accessibility upgrades
• Guidelines for new bus stops
The bus stop action plan was developed over a
five-month period that included the following: Two Metro buses queued up to enter the Transportation Center located in Downtown
Kalamazoo.

Final
Kickoff Existing Public recommendations
meeting with Detailed conditions Initial meetings
field review and
Metro staff analysis recommendations and online implementation
outreach plan

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 7

The sidewalk along Kilgore, east of Manchester, connects directly to this bus stop’s shelter; however, the signed stop location is a significant distance west of the shelter and lacks
an ADA-compliant concrete pad connecting the sidewalk to the curb.

Metro
8 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

2 EXISTING CONDITIONS
Metro operates 19 fixed-routes throughout the
Parchment
HS 43
Walmart
KALAMAZOO Harding's

cities of Kalamazoo, Portage, and Parchment as TOWNSHIP

Parchment
PARCHMENT

well as the townships of Kalamazoo, Comstock, 131 Community Library Menards Meijer
Kalamazoo Central
HS Save-A-Lot Borgess Health

Texas, and Oshtemo. High ridership destinations 131 & Fitness Center Kalamazoo County
Alma Powell
Branch Health and Community
Borgess

include:
Library Services Comstock
Maple Hill Medical Center
Meijer HS
Pavillion Eastwood Plaza
Menards KVCC Kalamazoo Transportation Eastwood
43
Arcadia Campus Center Branch COMSTOCK
• Western Michigan University (WMU) Walmart
Harding's
US Social Security
Kalamazoo College
Bronson School
Kalamazoo Public Library
Central Library
Library TOWNSHIP
96
Administration of Nursing Senior Services Bronson Methodist Hospital Comstock Township

Crossroads Mall
of SW Mich. Library
Kalamazoo Public Library
• OSHTEMO WMU Washington Square
Michigan Commission Kalamazoo
TOWNSHIP Training County Parker Hannifin
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
YMCA DHHS Goodwill 94
• Harding's WMU College of Eng.
and Applied Sciences

• Maple Hill Pavilion Loy Norrix

KALAMAZOO HS

• Southland Mall 94
Meijer

Portage Northern
HS
Multiple Meijer, Walmart and Harding’s
Bronson
Stryker
• Athletic
Club Southland Instruments
KVCC

locations
Mall
Harding's
Crossroads Mall
TEXAS 131
Pfizer

• Bronson and Borgess Medical Centers TOWNSHIP

Borgess at
Woodbridge Hills
Portage District Library
YMCA Portage Senior Center

• Kalamazoo County Health and Harding's Walmart Portage Central HS

Stryker
Medical

Community Services Legend Meijer PORTAGE

City and Township Limits

• Senior Services of South Western School

Shopping Center
Michigan Point of Interest
Kalamazoo Transportation
Center
Metro Route
0 0.5 1
Ridership, bus stop spacing, amenities, and Data Sources: Michigan Open Data Miles

sidewalk availability varies across the Metro

service area. FIGURE 2-1 METRO SERVICE AREA AND KEY DESTINATIONS

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 9

43
RIDERSHIP
KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT Metro continuously collects and monitors
131
ridership data for each bus stop in the system.
131
Passenger boarding and alighting activity is
tracked using electronic passenger counters
43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP
installed at the front and back doors of each
96 bus.
OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP Ridership is generally highest at stops serving
94
key destinations, high-density apartment
housing, and major commercial corridors such
KALAMAZOO
as Gull Road and Westnedge Avenue.
94 Figure 2-2 shows proportional ridership for
each stop in the system. This figure excludes
the Kalamazoo Transportation Center and Rood
TEXAS
TOWNSHIP
131
Hall-WMU stops which have significantly higher
ridership than other stops in the system, with
over 3,600 and 900 average boardings per day,
PORTAGE respectively.

0 0.5 1
Miles

FIGURE 2-2 METRO WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP BY STOP

Metro
10 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

43
STOP SPACING
KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT Optimal bus stop spacing requires a balance of
131
customer convenience and operating efficiency.
131
Closely spaced stops reduce the distance to and
from customer origins and destinations but result
43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP
in slower bus speeds and less reliable service.
96 Stops spaced far apart result in faster, more
OSHTEMO
reliable service but can significantly increase
TOWNSHIP
94
walking distance.
Bus stop spacing varies across the Metro service
KALAMAZOO
area based on a number of factors, including
population and employment densities, sidewalk
availability, travel speeds and past rider requests.
94

In general, moderate to high ridership corridors

have shorter stop spacing than low ridership
TEXAS
corridors. Geographically, stop spacing is most
131
TOWNSHIP
dense in the areas surrounding downtown
Kalamazoo and least dense along corridors near
PORTAGE
Stop Spacing
the periphery of the Metro route network.
< 500 ft
500 - 1,000 ft
The average bus stop spacing for Metro routes is
1,000 - 2,500 ft 1,600 feet, however, 79% of Metro routes average
2,500 - 5,000 ft 1,000 to 1,600 feet spacing, which is in line with
urban transit systems of similar size.
5,000 + ft
0 0.5 1
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, Kalamazoo Metro
Miles

Figure 2-4 shows the average stop spacing in

FIGURE 2-3 BUS STOP SPACING CLUSTER ANALYSIS feet for each route in the Metro system, as well
as the general range for optimal stop spacing,
generally between 1/4 mile and 1/3 mile, in urban
transit systems similar in size to Metro.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 11

FIGURE 2-4 AVERAGE STOP SPACING BY ROUTE (IN FEET)

Metro
12 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Adequate bus stop amenities including signage, benches, shelters, and concrete pads are necessary for ensuring a safe and comfortable waiting area for passengers. This bus stop
at Westnedge and Howard has concrete sidewalk and signage, but lacks seating and a shelter.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 13

BUS STOP AMENITIES 43

! !! !! ! !!!! ! ! !
KALAMAZOO
Metro’s bus stops were organized into four tiers !!
! !
! !
TOWNSHIP ! ! PARCHMENT !
! !
!
according to the type of amenities present at
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each bus stop.
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OSHTEMO !!! !!
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! KALAMAZOO ! !
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94 ! ! ! !
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TEXAS 131
! ! !
TOWNSHIP !

! !
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!
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!
Legend ! PORTAGE
Bus Stop Amenities
! Tier 1 - Shelter
! Tier 2 - Concrete Pad
!
! Tier 3 - Sign Only !
!
! Tier 4 - Flag Stop/No Sign

Metro Route 0 0.5 1

Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, Kalamazoo Metro
Miles

FIGURE 2-5 BUS STOP AMENITIES BY TIER

Metro
14 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

SIDEWALK NETWORK 43

Sidewalk connectivity along and adjacent to KALAMAZOO

TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT

corridors with bus stops is crucial for riders to 131

safely access transit. Overall, 70% of Metro stops 131

have sidewalks present in the immediate area.

43 COMSTOCK
Route 1 Westnedge and Route 5 East Main have TOWNSHIP

high pedestrian connectivity with sidewalks 96

present at over 95% of stops. Route 10 Comstock OSHTEMO

TOWNSHIP
is the only Metro route with sidewalks present 94

at fewer than 50% of stops. Routes 3 West

Michigan, 6 Parchment, 21 Solon-Kendall, and 26
KALAMAZOO
West Centre also have sidewalks present at fewer
than 60% of stops. 94

Sidewalk infrastructure along transit corridors

ranges from sidewalks present on both sides of TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP
the street to sidewalks present on one side of the
streets or no sidewalks available.
Legend PORTAGE
Sidewalk Infrastructure
Bi-Directional Sidewalk
One-Sided Sidewalk
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS

0 0.5 1
Miles

FIGURE 2-7 SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE METRO SERVICE AREA

FIGURE 2-6 PERCENT OF STOPS WITH SIDEWALK CONNECTIONS, BY ROUTE

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 15

Stops that lack sidewalk connectivity and concrete pads are more difficult for passengers to access and may be uncomfortable areas to wait for the bus. Natural features like
rocks and topography may make boarding the bus more difficult in some locations.

Metro
16
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Kalamazoo Area Bus Stop Action Plan
recommendations will improve the following
aspects of Metro service:
• Bus stop locations
• New stops to fill gaps or better serve
origins/destinations
• Relocated stops to improve safety,
accessibility or spacing
• Discontinued stops due to low ridership
• Bus stop amenities
• Bus stop signage
• Pedestrian accessibility
Additional recommendations include guidelines
for future bus stops and the elimination of
Metro’s flag stop policy, which allows riders to
flag down a bus at any intersection along an
existing route. Recommended amenities, signage
and pedestrian accessibility improvements will
assist Metro in balancing customer convenience,
operating efficiency, and public safety.
Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
BUS STOP LOCATIONS
While transit best practices provide guidance
with the spacing, placement and design of
individual bus stops, each existing and potential
location requires a case-by-case review. Ideally,
all stops should be located near crosswalks and
connect to ADA-compliant sidewalks. However,
the existing infrastructure in many areas
presents several challenges to stop placement.
Considering this, bus stop recommendations
were developed based on a variety of factors
including:
• Existing and potential ridership
• Stop spacing
• Right-of-way and adjacent land use
• Existing amenities
• Pedestrian infrastructure
• Rider and operational safety
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 17

Metro currently has 768 active bus stops. It is recommended that 518 stops be retained, 196 stops
be removed from the system, 54 stops be relocated within a short distance of the existing location,
and 88 new stops be added. These recommendations would reduce the total number of stops in the
system from 768 to 660, a 16% decrease. Retained stops will remain in the same location, relocated
stops will move a short distance within the same block, removed stops are entirely removed from
the system, and new stops will be newly added. This vast undertaking will require close coordination
between Metro, member cities and townships, and adjacent property owners (private entities and
citizens). The coming pages illustrate these recommendations at the system level and by route.

Metro
 18

43
KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT
131

131

43 COMSTOCK

FIGURE 3-1 CURRENT BUS STOP NETWORK

TOWNSHIP
96

OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP
94

KALAMAZOO

Metro
94

TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP

PORTAGE

Legend
Retain or Relocate Stop
Delete Stop
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data
0 0.5 1
Miles
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
 43
KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT
131
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

131

43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP

FIGURE 3-2 PROPOSED BUS STOP NETWORK

96

OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP
94

KALAMAZOO

Metro
94

TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP

PORTAGE

Legend
Retain Stop
Relocate Stop
Add Stop
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data
0 0.5 1
Miles
19
20 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

ROUTE MAPS
Route 1

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 21

Route 2

Metro
22 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 3

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 23

Route 4

Metro
24 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 5

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 25

Route 6

Metro
26 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 7

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 27

Route 8

Metro
28 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 9

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 29

Route 10

Metro
30 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 11

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 31

Route 12

Metro
32 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 13

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 33

Route 14

Metro
34 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 15

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 35

Route 16

Metro
36 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 21

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 37

Route 26

Metro
38 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Route 27

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
BUS STOP AMENITIES
Bus stops amenities enhance customer
experience by increasing comfort and reducing
perceived waiting times. Well-designed and
maintained amenities have the potential to
attract and retain riders. Bus stop amenities also
influence the community’s image perception
of transit service. Where possible, all bus stops
should be ADA compliant and accessible.
Expanding the range of bus stop amenities is
recommended to reflect the unique ridership and
land use characteristics of each bus stop.
Basic Bus Stop
Bus stops generating fewer than 10 daily
boardings are classified as basic stops and
should include a pole, signage, and an ADA
compliant concrete pad where possible.
Bus Stop with Seating
Bus stops generating 10-20 daily boardings
qualify for a bench and waste bin. Some stops
with 10 or more boardings per day may not have
sufficient right-of-way for seating.
Metro
39
Bus Stop with Shelter
Bus stops generating 20 or more daily boardings
qualify for a shelter, seating, and waste bin.
In addition, Metro may consider accommodating
shelter requests at stops with 10-20 daily
boardings and sufficient right-of-way if they
directly serve community destinations such as:
• Medical and social service facilities
• Senior housing or activity centers
• Schools, colleges, or universities
• Grocery stores
• Libraries or other public facilities
The installation of seating at basic bus stops may
be considered in lieu of shelter requests that do
not yet generate 20 boardings per day or cannot
be accommodated due to right-of-way or other
constraints.
Bus Stop with Large Shelter
Large shelters are recommended at stops with at
least 75 average daily boardings. Large shelters
are useful for stops that have sufficient ridership
40 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

during peak periods that riders would not PROPOSED BUS STOP TYPES
comfortably fit in a single shelter. These stops
are primarily recommended at large employment Basic Bus Stop
hubs and high density housing locations.

WMU Transit Hub

The WMU Transit Hub would located at the
second highest ridership stop in the Metro
system, behind only the Transportation Center
in downtown Kalamazoo. This transit hub is
recommended to account for the large volume
of passengers traveling to and from the Western
Michigan University campus.
This transit hub would require coordination
with the university and other public agencies
and would need to be addressed as a Bus Stop with Shelter
standalone improvement, separate from other
recommendations in the implementation plan.

Amenities may not be feasible at all locations

Circumstances that might preclude installation of seating, shelters or other
amenities at a particular stop meeting specific thresholds are:
• Amenities would compromise pedestrian or operational safety
• Adequate right-of-way is not available
• Regulations enforced by City, Township, State, or Federal
government
• Installation costs are excessive
• Plans are in place to relocate or close the stop

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 41

Bus Stop with Seating WMU Transit Hub

Bus Stop with Large Shelter

Example of a transit hub with real time arrival information, a shelter, adequate seating,
and a waste bin in Dearborn, MI. (Source: Brasco International)

Metro
42 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

KALAMAZOO
43
BUS STOP AMENITY RECOMMENDATIONS
PARCHMENT
TOWNSHIP
131
Improved amenities are recommended for the
131
following locations:

43 COMSTOCK Type Stop Boardings

TOWNSHIP
96 Transit Hub WMU - Rood Hall 914
OSHTEMO Large Shelter Crossroads Mall 289
TOWNSHIP
94

Old Kilgore & Westnedge 142

W KL & Concord Place 98

KALAMAZOO
94
Meredith & Davis Creek Apts 75

Regular Shelter N Burdick-Paterson OB 44

Skyrise Apartments IB 27
TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP
Kilgore Service Road-Portage 25

W Main-Piccadilly 24
PORTAGE
Legend Westnedge-Buchanan IB 21
Relocated and Retained Stops
Shelter Park-W Vine 21
Large Shelter
WMU Transit Hub
Metro Route
E Main-Southworth 21
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data
0 0.5 1 Westnedge-Howard 17
Miles

Stadium-Rambling IB 17

FIGURE 3-3 SHELTER RECOMMENDATIONS Park-Forest 16

Cork-Whittier IB 15

Park-Balch 15

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 43

Bus stop signage and branding may be less clear to passengers if it is located on shared signage posts. Locating bus stop signage on their own, unique pole improves awareness
for passengers and provides a clear signal for operators to stop at specific locations in relation to concrete pads.

Metro
44
BUS STOP SIGNAGE
Well-designed bus stop signage has the
opportunity to provide useful customer
information while simultaneously marketing
transit service. Current bus stop signage
is inadequate in terms of providing basic
information for existing and potential customers.
Existing Bus Stop Signage
Existing Metro signage includes the text “BUS
STOP”, a generic bus icon, the former Metro
Transit logo and the current Metro customer
service number.
Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
New Bus Stop Signage
Bus stops are the single most important and cost
effective way to show where a bus operates,
stops, and what destinations are served. Bus
stops help non-users figure out the system and
also raise the visibility of the system throughout
the community.
New signage should be installed at all Metro
stops. Each sign should include the following:
• Metro logo
• Unique panels/stickers for each route
with route number and name
• Unique stop identification number,
which can be used to access schedule
information using the app or website
• Customer service line and website
address
• ADA-accessible symbol indicating that
buses (not necessarily the stop) are
accessible
The placement of Metro bus stop signage should
also be consistent for all stops. New signage
should be installed on a free-standing pole
and placed at far end of the stop and mark the
stopping point of the bus. Signage should ideally
be installed 3-5’ from the curb to maximize
visibility.
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 45

Displaying route specific information on bus stop

signage is a key component for communicating
route information with potential riders.
Information may be displayed on the sign directly
or in separate placards which can be updated
as route alignments change without needing to
replace the entire sign.

New Bus Stop Signage Examples CATA bus stop signage in East Lansing, Michigan. (Source: CATA).

Sample signage for Metro with new branding. The Rapid bus stop signage in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Source: MLive)

Metro
46 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY 43

Detailed review of the Metro bus stop network KALAMAZOO

TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT

produced recommendations for pedestrian 131

infrastructure improvements to improve safety 131

and accessibility. Recommendations include

281 concrete landing pads and 14 pedestrian 43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP
activated crosswalks. 96

OSHTEMO
Concrete Pads TOWNSHIP
94

A total of 401 stops are not compliant with the

American with Disabilities Act, which states that
stops must include a landing pad measuring 60 KALAMAZOO

inches wide by 96 inches deep that is free of 94

obstructions and has a direct and impervious

path to adjacent sidewalks. Many transit systems
go beyond ADA minimums and provide a landing TEXAS
TOWNSHIP
131

pad for the rear door of the bus.

PORTAGE

Legend
Relocated and Retained Stops
Concrete Pads
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data

0 0.5 1
Miles

FIGURE 3-4 PROPOSED CONCRETE PADS

Example of a current bus stop

without a concrete pad.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 47

Crosswalks 43
KALAMAZOO
Crosswalks are recommended in locations where TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT

high ridership stops or destinations are separated 131

by streets with high traffic volumes or speeds, 131

making crossing difficult or unsafe

43 COMSTOCK
High priority crosswalks recommendations: TOWNSHIP
96

On Street At Street Route(s) Jurisdiction

OSHTEMO
Served TOWNSHIP
W Main St Northampton Rd 14 Kalamazoo 94

Jasper St E Dutton St 13 Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO
Portage St Lay Blvd 2 Kalamazoo
94

Portage St Banbury Rd 2 Kalamazoo*

Gull Rd Colgrove Ave 9 Kalamazoo Twp*

TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP
Gull Rd Asbury Ave 9 Kalamazoo Twp*

Gull Rd Walmart 9 Comstock Twp

PORTAGE

*Recommended in KATSMOVES Final Plan Legend

Moderate priority crosswalks recommendations: Relocated and Retained Stops

Crosswalks
Metro Route
On Street At Street Route(s) Jurisdiction Data Sources: Michigan Open Data
Served
0 0.5 1
W KL Ave Concord Pl Dr 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp Miles

Oakland Dr Calhoun 4 Kalamazoo

FIGURE 3-5 PROPOSED CROSSWALK LOCATIONS
N Park St W Hopkins St 15 Kalamazoo

Portage Rd Aerospace & Science Museum 27 Portage

N Riverview Dr W Glenguile Ave 6 Parchment

Metro
48 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Sidewalks 43
KALAMAZOO
PARCHMENT
Sixteen sidewalk gaps were identified totaling TOWNSHIP
131

1,720 linear feet. 131

Location Linear Route(s) Jurisdiction

Feet Served 43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP
W KL Dr & Drake Rd (NW Corner) 100’ 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp 96

W KL Dr & Drake Rd (SW Corner) 60’ 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp OSHTEMO

TOWNSHIP
94
W KL Ave & Merrimac St 500’ 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp

W KL Ave & Concord Pl Dr (North) 80’ 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp

KALAMAZOO
W KL Ave & Concord Pl Dr (South) 100’ 3, 16 Oshtemo Twp 94

Stadium Dr & Venture Park Dr 80’ 11 Oshtemo Twp

E Centre Ave & S Sprinkle Rd (NW 60’ 27 Portage TEXAS 131

Corner) TOWNSHIP
Palmer Ave & Fulford St (SE 50’ 8 Kalamazoo
Corner)
Gull Rd & Gull Run Dr (SE Corner) 60’ 9 Comstock Twp PORTAGE
Legend
Sidewalk Infrastructure
Portage Street & Banbury Rd (NW 50’ 2 Kalamazoo
Proposed Sidewalk Extension
Corner)
Metro Route
Portage Rd & E Milham Ave (SW 100’ 27 Portage
Corner) Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS

Stadium Dr & Howard St (SW 60’ 11 Kalamazoo 0 0.5 1

Corner) Miles

Stadium Dr & S 11th St (NW 100’ 3, 11 Oshtemo Twp

Corner)
FIGURE 3-6 PROPOSED SIDEWALK EXTENSIONS
W Main St & Piccadilly Rd (NW 140’ 3, 7, 14 Kalamazoo
Corner)
Hudson Ave & YMCA 60’ 12 Kalamazoo

Stadiium Dr & Oliver St (SE Corner) 120’ 11 Kalamazoo

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 49

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The implementation plan for capital improvements would be conducted in five distinct phases over
a period of five years. Operational improvements are prioritized first, followed by concrete bad
installation. Specific improvements and maps for each phase are presented in this section.

Phase Capital Improvement Units Square Feet Unit Cost Total Cost
1 Install new signage at all retained, relocated, and new bus stops 750 -- $200 $150,000
Close major sidewalk gaps 1,320 5,280 $10 $52,800
Phase 1 Total $202,800
2 Install high-priority crosswalks at unsignalized locations 7 -- $20,000 $140,000
Install shelters at recommended locations 12 -- $5,000 $60,000
Install concrete pads along Routes 1, 3, and 9 50 4,000 $10 $40,000
Phase 2 Total $240,000
3 Install moderate-priority crosswalks at unsignalized locations 7 -- $20,000 $140,000
Install concrete pads along Routes 2, 6, 11, and 15 70 5,600 $10 $56,000
Install large shelters at recommended locations 4 -- $10,000 $40,000
Phase 3 Total $236,000
4 Install concrete pads along Routes 7, 8, 10, 13, and 14 80 6,400 $10 $64,000
Install shelters at TBD stops with high boarding activity 10 -- $5,000 $50,000
Install benches at TBD stops with moderate boarding activity 10 -- $750 $7,500
Phase 4 Total $121,500
5 Install concrete pads along Routes 4, 5, 12, 16, 21, 26, and 27 80 6,400 $10 $64,000
Install shelters at TBD stops with high boarding activity 10 -- $5,000 $50,000
Install benches at TBD stops with moderate boarding activity 10 -- $750 $7,500
Phase 5 Total $121,500
Project Total $921,800

Metro
50 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Phase 1 Implementation Phase 2 Implementation

43 43
KALAMAZOO KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT
131 131

131 131

43 COMSTOCK 43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
96 96

OSHTEMO OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
94 94

KALAMAZOO KALAMAZOO
94 94

TEXAS 131 TEXAS 131

TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP

PORTAGE PORTAGE
Legend Legend
Phase 1 Improvements Phase 2 Improvements
Sidewalk Extension Install Crosswalk
Install Shelter
Install New Signage
Install Concrete Pad
Metro Route
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS

0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1
Miles Miles

FIGURE 3-7 PHASE 1 IMPLEMENTATION FIGURE 3-8 PHASE 2 IMPLEMENTATION

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 51

Phase 3 Implementation Phase 4 Implementation

43
43
KALAMAZOO
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT
131
131

131
131

43 COMSTOCK
43 COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP
96
96

OSHTEMO
OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP 94
94

KALAMAZOO
KALAMAZOO
94
94

TEXAS 131
TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP

PORTAGE
PORTAGE
Legend Legend
Phase 3 Improvements Phase 4 Improvements
Install Crosswalk
Install Concrete Pad
Install Large Shelter
Install WMU Transit Hub Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS
Install Concrete Pad
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS 0 0.5 1
0 0.5 1
Miles
Miles

FIGURE 3-9 PHASE 3 IMPLEMENTATION FIGURE 3-10 PHASE 4 IMPLEMENTATION

Metro
52 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Phase 5 Implementation The WMU Transit Hub is not included in the

implementation plan due to the unique necessity
to coordinate with Western Michigan University
43 on the planning, funding, and development of
KALAMAZOO
TOWNSHIP PARCHMENT any improvement at that location.
131

131 Additionally, installing crosswalks and sidewalk

extensions will require coordination with
43 COMSTOCK other public agencies or private landowners
TOWNSHIP
including cities, townships, counties, or the State
Department of Transportation.
96

OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP
94 In general, improvements were prioritized to
enhance operational benefits first, then takes
a corridor by corridor approach prioritizing
KALAMAZOO locations with the highest needs first and
94
allowing for more flexibility at the end of the
implementation period.
TEXAS 131
TOWNSHIP

PORTAGE
Legend
Phase 54 Improvements
Install Concrete Pad
Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data, KATS

0 0.5 1
Miles

FIGURE 3-11 PHASE 5 IMPLEMENTATION

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE STOPS
This section provides Metro with guidance on the
spacing placement of new bus stops as a result
of development or customer requests.
Stop Spacing
Bus stop spacing requires a balance of customer
convenience and operating efficiency. Customer
convenience involves a tradeoff between
distance to stops and travel speeds. Closely
spaced stops reduce the distance to/from
customer origins and destination. However, stops
spaced far apart result in faster, more reliable
service for all customers. In general, bus stop
spacing of 1,000-1,600 feet is recommended.
Bus stop spacing of 1,200 feet or more may be
necessary for outlying areas.
Stop Placement
The proper placement of bus stops is critical
to the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and
motorists, as well as the safe and efficient
operation of buses. The initial step of
determining placement of a new or relocated bus
stop involves its proximity to the intersection.
The placement of each bus stop can be classified
as one of the following:
Metro
53
• Near-side—immediately prior to an
intersection
• Far-side—immediately after an
intersection
• Mid-block—between two intersections
Bus stops are generally located far-side or
near-side of street intersections to maximize
pedestrian accessibility from both sides of
the street and provide connectivity between
intersecting routes. Bus turning movements,
driveways, and turn lanes sometimes restrict the
placement of stops at or near an intersection and
necessitate a mid-block stop. Mid-block stops
may also be considered when trip generators are
a significant distance from intersections. Mid-
block bus stops should be located a distance
from the intersection that allows the bus to easily
maneuver into the proper lane to turn left (a
minimum of 100-150 feet for each lane change,
depending on street speeds).
Each new bus stop must be examined on a case-
by-case basis to determine their exact location.
The following list details bus stop placement
considerations related to customer convenience
and comfort, accessibility, operational safety, and
adjacent land use:
54 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

Customer Convenience and Comfort Adjacent Land Use

• Proximity to expected trip generators • Ridership potential to support the
investment of new stops
• Visibility of bus stop and presence of
street illumination • Adequate right-of-way to prevent
encroachment onto private property
• Connections to intersecting bus
routes Bus Stop Placement Considerations
Accessibility
• Adequate right-of-way to ensure the
bus stop meets the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility
standards
• Presence and conditions of sidewalks
• Marked crosswalks and curb ramps at
street intersections
Operational Safety
• Volume and turning movements of other
vehicles including bicycles
• Adequate sight distance to/from adjacent
streets, intersections, and driveways
• Proximity to rail crossings

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 55

Bus Stop Dimensions

Recommended bus stop zone dimensions for arterial streets are illustrated in the following figures.
Each drawing depicts ideal bus stop dimensions in terms of ingress, bus zone, and egress for near-
side, far-side, and mid-block stops. Entry and exit tapers enable buses to return to the traffic stream
without a hard left turn. No parking zones reduce conflict with parked autos and maximize line of
sight for bus operators, motorists, and cyclists.

[INSERT PHOTO]

Metro
56 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

NEAR SIDE BUS STOP RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 57

FAR SIDE BUS STOP RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS

Metro
58 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

MID-BLOCK BUS STOP RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
Bus Turnouts
Bus turnouts are recessed bus stop zones along
arterial streets that enable traffic to move
around a bus when passengers are boarding and
alighting. Bus turnouts must be sited carefully
to provide adequate sight distance for bus
operators to safely re-renter the traffic stream
while minimizing schedule delay and increased
transit passenger travel time.
Bus turnouts should be considered at selected
locations where passenger volumes and the
flow of traffic could be significantly impeded by
stopped transit buses. Bus turnouts may also be
needed at locations where traffic speed exceeds
40 miles per hour.
The minimum width for bus turnouts is 10 feet to
provide sufficient space to enable bus operators
to properly maneuver the bus and avoid conflict
with adjacent traffic. The recommended width
for bus turnouts is 12 feet to provide additional
space to maneuver.
Driveways
Whenever possible, bus stops should not be
placed within proximity of a driveway. However, if
a driveway is unavoidable:
• Attempt to keep at least one exit and
entrance open to vehicles accessing
Metro
59
the property while a bus is loading or
unloading passengers.
• Locate bus stops to allow good visibility
for vehicles leaving the property and to
minimize vehicle/bus conflicts. This is
best accomplished by placing bus stops
where driveways are behind the stopped
bus.
• Never place a bus stop that forces
passengers to wait for a bus in the
middle of a driveway.
• It is preferable to fully rather than
partially block a driveway to prevent
vehicles from attempting to squeeze by
the bus in a situation with reduced sight
distance.
Parking Restrictions
Metro should consider striping the curb at each
bus stop (20’ before the bus zone, 40’ for the
bus zone, and 10’ after the bus zone) to maximize
safety and customer convenience while reducing
conflicts with automobile traffic.
60 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

MID-BLOCK BUS TURNOUT RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN
ELIMINATION OF FLAG STOPS
Metro currently employs a bus stop policy that
includes designated (signed) bus stops and
flag stops. Under this system, passengers are
permitted to board at designated bus stops or
at any intersection along the route outside of
downtown by flagging down an approaching
bus. Similarly, passengers may exit the bus
anywhere along the route by activating the on-
board stop request cord or strip one block prior
to their desired departure. Bus operators are not
permitted to load or unload customers in the
middle of a block.
While flag stops allow customers to board and
exit the bus closer to their origin or destination
than a typical designated stop, they also
negatively impact other aspects of service such
as schedule reliability and speed.
Metro should transition to have only designated
bus stops systemwide.
Transitioning from the current flag stop system
to designated bus stops is a substantial change
for passengers. Changes in how to access
service, especially for existing customers, can be
unsettling. The benefits of the change, however,
outweigh the negative impacts on existing
customers.
Metro
61
SPEED AND RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Eliminating flag stops helps create a more
predictable transit environment by controlling
how frequently a bus stops. Metro measures
schedule adherence by the time a bus departs
one of several scheduled timepoints along a
route.
Formalizing bus stops is a cost-effective way
to improve the speed and reliability of Metro
services. While the elimination of flag stops may
result in longer walks for some customers, all
riders will experience faster and more reliable
service. Actual and perceived time savings
obtained by reducing the number of stops have a
positive influence on customer satisfaction.
Operational Safety
Several veteran Metro bus operators provided
similar feedback regarding the current flag stop
system. Bus operators indicated that flag stops
may reduce speeds significantly and create
operational challenges. Designated bus stops
at safe and visible locations enhance customer
safety by controlling where pedestrians cross
streets. Fewer bus stops also reduce the chance
of buses getting rear-ended by automobiles
traveling along the same corridor(s).
62 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

APPENDIX A - PUBLIC OUTREACH AND

FEEDBACK
Preliminary recommendations were developed
and subjected to extensive public outreach
over the course of several weeks. Feedback and
comments were collected through an online tool,
operator interviews, and public open houses and
presentations.
OPERATOR INTERVIEWS AND PUBLIC
MEETINGS
Operator interviews were conducted on two
occasions at the Metro administrative office.
One interview utilized a formal presentation with tool and were available for comment from July
a question and answer component, while the
other used an open house style format to solicit
feedback from operators. Two public meetings
were also used to gather feedback, one at the
Portage City Hill and another at the Metro office. Comments pertained to stop action
Both public meetings led with presentations
followed by open house style question and
answer sessions.
Community members used these meetings as
opportunities to seek clarification on the action
plan, voice concerns over eliminating certain
stops, identify potential locations for new stops,
and make recommendations for amenities and
infrastructure improvements at stops with safety
concerns.
ONLINE COMMENTING TOOL
Community Remarks is an online, map-
based, engagement tool that allows the
public to post comments at specific locations
on a map, respond to existing comments,
and voice agreement or disagreement with
recommendations. Preliminary recommendations
were posted to the Community Remarks online
18, 2018 until August 10, 2018. The preliminary
recommendations received 66 unique comments
or responses.
recommendations, infrastructure improvements,
potential key destinations, and passenger safety
concerns. These comments were used to inform
final recommendations.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 63

Public outreach meetings were conducted in the cities of Portage and Kalamazoo, accompanied by a presentation of the Kalamazoo Bus Stop Action Plan Project, an overview of
the online commenting tool, and a question and answer session with project staff.

Metro
64 KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN

APPENDIX B - IMPACT ANALYSIS

An analysis was conducted to assess the impacts Demographic Existing Removed Added Proposed Percent
of the proposed bus stop recommendations Stops Stops Stops Total Stops Change``
on specific populations that may be
disproportionately harmed by the removal or Over 50% Minority 87 20 12 79 -10%
relocation of bus stops. The five demographic
Over 50% Low 217 48 27 196 -11%
characteristics analyzed in this assessment are Income
minority populations, low-income populations, Over 0.5 Seniors per 6 0 0 6 0%
seniors (aged 65 or older), people with Acre
disabilities, and zero vehicle households. Over 0.5 People with 18 0 2 20 10%
Disabilities per Acre
There are no stops recommended for removal in
areas with high concentrations of seniors (over Over 0.5 Zero 24 1 2 25 4%
Vehicle Households
0.5 per acre). Areas with high concentrations per Acre
of people with disabilities and zero vehicle Total System 767 195 88 660 -16%
households (over 0.5 per acre) are recommended
to increase the number of stops by 10% and 4%
respectively. Areas with high concentrations
of minorities and low income residents are
recommended to decrease the number of stops
by 10% and 11%, respectively. While stops are
proposed to be removed in these areas, the
percent change in stops is less than the system
wide reduction, indicating that there is not an
undue burden on these areas.

Metro
KALAMAZOO BUS STOP ACTION PLAN 65

KALAMAZOO PARCHMENT KALAMAZOO PARCHMENT

TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
131 131
43 43
131 131

43 COMSTOCK 43 COMSTOCK
TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
96 96

OSHTEMO OSHTEMO
TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
94 94
KALAMAZOO KALAMAZOO

94 94

131 131

TEXAS PORTAGE TEXAS PORTAGE

TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP
Legend
Percent of Population that is
Low Income
Legend Less than 10%
Percent of Minority Population
Between 10% and 25%
Less than 25% Retain Stop Between 25% and 50%
Between 25% and 50% Delete Stop Between 50% and 75%
Between 50% and 75% More than 75%
Between 75% and 90% Relocate Stop
More than 90% Add Stop
Metro Route Metro Route
Data Sources: Michigan Open Data
0 0.5 1 Data Sources: Michigan Open Data 0 0.5 1 Kalamazoo Metro, US Census Bureau 2015
Kalamazoo Metro, US Census Bureau 2015
Miles Miles

REMOVED STOPS AND PERCENT OF POPULATION THAT IS A MINORITY REMOVED STOPS AND PERCENT OF POPULATION LIVING IN POVERTY

Metro
 530 N. Rose Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-363
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