Transit street

A transit street prioritises active and public transport mobility and restricts private vehicle use in a lively and high amenity place.

In transit streets, public transport is prioritised and space allocation for public transport is clear and distinct, either inherently (e.g. light rail tracks) or by adding surface marking such as paint and ‘Bus Lane’ text. The typical street reserve varies between 20 metres (standard width) and 30 metres (wide), but carriageways can be significantly less within the reserve to support the street’s broader objectives.

Urban centre and urban transit streets

In urban centre and urban transit streets, public transport is prioritised and space allocation for public transport is clear and distinct, either inherently, such as for light rail tracks, or by adding surface markings, such as paint and ‘bus lane’ text. Barriers between lanes or tracks and spaces where people stay or walk are avoided to encourage access on both sides of the street. Space is also allocated to people walking and, where appropriate, cycling to destinations along the street or more distant, as well as those accessing public transport stops.

Common issues for urban centre and urban transit streets

a lack of public transport priority
difficulty in catering for light rail
a lack of cycling facilities
inadequate width of footpaths and long wait times for street crossings
slow and unreliable public transport connections to rail stations
inconveniently located bus stops and insufficient bus stop capacities
corridors being too narrow to fit all the necessary infrastructure
vehicle access to private property and the compensation required to stop up access.

Design solutions for urban centre and urban transit streets

[1] bicycle paths (Cycleway Design Toolbox, TS 01590)

[2] trees in the verge (Landscape Design Guideline, TS 01595)

[3] timed vehicle access (Freight and Servicing Last Mile Toolkit)

[4] bus priority (Bus Priority Infrastructure Planning Toolbox)

[5] kerb extensions or build outs (Austroads Guide to Traffic Management , Part 8)

[6] single stage crossings (Traffic Signal Design, TS 02670)

[7] reduced kerb radii (Design of Roads and Streets, TS 00066)

[8] mid-block crossings (Austroads Guide to Road Design, Part 4)

[9] multi-function poles (Multi-function Poles , AS 5386)

[10] signalised crossings on all intersection legs (Traffic Signal Design, TS 02670).

The design solutions library includes a full list of appropriate design solutions for transit streets.

Another important design solution for urban centre streets not shown is street activation infrastructure (NSW Great Places Toolkit).

The Bus Priority Infrastructure Planning Toolbox should be used to determine the appropriate bus priority treatment for transit streets.

Suburban transit street

In suburban contexts the street reserve is often wider and points between destinations are often longer. Public transport services are often less frequent, but this is not always the case. Bus priority measures are often needed in these contexts to make bus journey times attractive compared to private car travel.