Design of Transit Structures for Urban Areas

Design of transit structures for urban areas requires consideration of many factors in addition to the purely technical strength and size designs. The task is to design the most effective and economical structures that will meet the overall transit and surrounding community needs. Development of such designs should achieve a coordinated balance among factors related to operation of the transit system and impact on the community, long range and during construction. This involves detailed consideration of many things, chiefly among which are: (1) The operating philosophy and plan of the transit system; (2) existing community development along the system planned; (3) constraints—physical, financial, visual public reaction; (4) geological conditions and probable construction methods; (5) nonstructural items, e.g., vehicles and train-control; (6) detailed design and contract packaging; and, (7) scheduling construction—equipment and testing.