Thursday, May 26, 2011

Possible Sites for Hub Terminal

When choosing the main terminal site, I am considering many factors including:

            -Location in downtown
                        -Access to major destinations
                        -Active Presence in downtown
            -Current use of site
            -Connectivity to current transport
                        -Train lines
                        - T lines and stations
                        -Busways and rights-of-way
                        -Pedestrians
                        -Parking options
            -Site Context
                        -Topography
-Sunlight and wind patterns
                        -Proximity to rivers
                        -Surrounding building types and roadways
                        -Density

 Possible sites
Source: Manipulated Google Map

After a preliminary look at downtown, I have selected six possible sites:
1.     Current Amtrak Station Site
2.     Bigelow and 7th Site
3.     Steel Plaza Site
4.     Blvd of Allies Site
5.     Northeast of Market Square Site
6.     8th and Fort Duquesne Site


1. Current Amtrak Station Site (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-Function already in place as rail station
-Excellent connectivity to current transport
            -Train
            -Busway
            -Parking
-Site and surroundings currently under-utilized

Cons:
-Challenging topography to south
-Surrounding roadways are dominant
-Not a great central location to downtown

2. Bigelow and 7th Site (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-Good connectivity to current transport
            -Train
            -Busway
-Site currently is a green patch- No one uses it!

Cons:
-Challenging topography to south
-Surrounding roadways cut through site
-Odd shape, but large
-Location in downtown is better than option 1, but not much

3.  Steel Plaza Site (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-Is the site of current T station
-Good connectivity to current transport
            -Close to train lines
            -Within vicinity of busway
-Good presence in city, on Grant St

Cons:
-Between the two biggest skyscrapers in town
-Area might be to dense, current park is good  land-use
-Too small to include rail

4. Blvd. of Allies Entrance Site (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-Good connectivity to current transport
            -Is very close to site of current T station
            -On train lines        
-Fair presence in city, on Blvd of Allies
-Site is under-utilized
-Right density for large station

Cons:
-Fair proximity to major destinations
-Current Building on SW of site 
-Might span the Blvd

5. Northeast of Market Square (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-In the center of Downtown
-Site is under-developed (buildings are in poor shape)
-Excellent pedestrian use
-Could open onto Market Square

Cons:
-No train connection 
-No current T lines in area
-Site is most developed of the ones examined

6. 8th and Fort Duquesne Site (Manipulated Google Earth)

Pros:
-Site is under-developed (buildings are in poor shape)
-Fair pedestrian use
-Proximity to convention center and stadiums
-Proximity to river, nice views
-Large site

Cons:
-Train connection through spur 
-No current T lines in area
-North of central downtown






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