Brief description of the organization
Providing engineering, environmental, advisory, architecture, digital and construction services for over 97 years, with over 12,000 employees worldwide.
Problem area
Many schools and transit stations serve as anchors within a transportation network for daily trips, yet the surrounding environment often presents barriers to access. Gaps in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, poor site design, limited wayfinding, safety concerns, and disconnected public spaces can make it difficult for people to complete the first or last portion of their journey without relying on a personal vehicle.
This project will explore how the transportation network and public realm surrounding a transit station, mobility hub, or educational institution can be redesigned to improve accessibility, connectivity, safety, and user experience.
Main objectives
- Assess existing first and last-mile transportation challenges surrounding a selected transit station, school, campus, or mobility hub.
- Evaluate how site design, public realm features, and transportation infrastructure influence access and mobility for different user groups.
- Identify barriers and gaps affecting pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, individuals with disabilities, and other transportation users.
- Develop recommendations and design concepts that improve connectivity between surrounding neighbourhoods and key destinations.
Scope of work
- Complete an environmental scan- Examine successful local, national, and international examples where station-area or campus-area improvements have increased accessibility, connectivity, and transit use.
- Select a study location- Identify a transit station, mobility hub, school, or campus as the focus area. The location could be selected in partnership with a municipality, transit agency, educational institution, or other stakeholder.
- Assess existing conditions- Analyze transportation networks, walking and cycling connections, transit access, land uses, public spaces, accessibility features, and site design within the study area.
- Evaluate access distances and user experiences- Map and assess how various user groups travel to and from the site, identifying barriers, safety concerns, gaps in connectivity, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop transportation and public realm concepts- Create design options or improvement scenarios that enhance first- and last-mile connections through infrastructure, placemaking, accessibility, and mobility interventions.
- Assess benefits and implementation considerations- Evaluate the potential impacts of proposed improvements on accessibility, active transportation uptake, transit use, safety, user experience, and community connectivity.
Potential Project Variations
To provide flexibility, students could focus on one of several contexts:
- Transit Station Focus: Reimagining the public realm and transportation connections surrounding a GO Station, LRT stop, BRT station, or transit terminal.
- Campus Mobility Focus: Improving connections between a university or college campus and surrounding transit, cycling, and pedestrian networks.
- Mobility Hub Focus: Exploring how integrated transportation, public space, and site design strategies can support multi-modal travel and reduce auto dependency.
- School Access Focus: Developing safer, more accessible, and more sustainable travel options for students, staff, and visitors.
Deliverables
- Report
- Presentation
- Resources
Team meeting frequency
Monthly
Skills and training required
Research and analytical skills and presentation skills
Resources required
Desktop research and onsite knowledge
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes