Agenda 01/22/2013 Item #11E 1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
n
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to review and approve the recommendations from the 2012 Bus Shelter Design
report for the Collier Area Transit bus shelter.
OBJECTIVE: To revise the existing design for the courthouse style bus shelter to provide more
protection for passengers from the elements.
CONSIDERATIONS: Collier County has two styles of bus shelters;the rural style and the courthouse
style. The courthouse style shelter is the preferred style and has been the standard for all newly installed
shelters over the last 4 years. Collier County staff began studying the current shelter style in late 2011 in
response to several questions regarding the functionality of the shelters. Comments were received that the
current shelters do not provide sufficient protection from the elements. In response to the comments,staff
studied alternative materials and styles to provide greater protection from inclement weather experienced
in Southwest Florida.
The report was broken down into three different components. The first component was a rider survey to
solicit feedback from passengers. The second component was to conduct a survey of other transit
agencies throughout Florida. The final component of the report included a comparison of materials that
are commonly used by manufacturers for transit shelters throughout the area.
The survey results to obtain passengers feedback concluded that fifty-two percent of riders responded in
favor of including side panels on the shelters. Another forty-four percent were in favor of an expanded
roof of the shelters. During the Transit agency survey process, it was noted that most agencies have more
than one bus shelter style to meet different needs and all use a combination of materials in the shelter.
The courthouse style bus shelters currently cost approximately $6,540. Inquiries were made to bus shelter
manufacturers to obtain cost estimates for the various side panel materials and a larger shelter roof. The
cost for each type of material can vary greatly depending on the quantity ordered. Once a final
determination is made on the desired material to be used for future shelters staff will competitively
procure the new shelter to comply with both local and federal requirements.
Staff's research into the addition of panels to the current courthouse style shelter design revealed that the
design may have to be modified slightly to exclude the scrolls and grillwork in order to accommodate the
panels. Staff will investigate that further and do what it can to maintain those design features if that is the
pleasure of the Board.
In evaluation of available side panel material, three types of materials are predominantly used for bus
shelters throughout the nation: tempered glass, perforated metal and plexiglass. Plexiglass was not
recommended for use on Collier County shelters due to the poor appearance, and the limited life
expectancy for that material. The tempered glass panels offer the most protection; however they do not
provide for much ventilation and could result in a hotbox for passengers. The perforated metal side panel
provides for the most ventilation but may reduce visibility for the users of the shelter if installed on all
sides. The table below provides cost comparisons for a shelter with various material options under the
current roof size versus a shelter with the same material options with a larger roof structure. In addition,
there is also a cost for an Option B presented for a shelter that is less customized,but will still stay true to
CAT's color scheme.
Traditionally ATM Staff has upgraded or installed 8 to 12 shelters at an annually cost of$200,000 to
$250,000.
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
Material Type
Shelter Type
Current Shelter size Larger Roof
Perforated Metal (side and back panels) $7,695 $8,450
Tempered Glass(side and back panels) $7,195 $7,950
Combination(Perforated Panels on Back/Tempered
Glass on side) $7,495 $8,250
Combination(Perforated Panels on Back/Tempered
Glass on side)Option B $6,50047,500
After consideration of all factors, it is recommended to maintain two shelter sizes, the current size for
areas where right of way is restricted, and a larger shelter with an expanded roof for areas where right of
way is not a concern. In order to achieve the maximum shelter while minimizing costs,a combination of
materials is recommended. Tempered glass panels on the side will allow visibility into the shelter at all
times. Tempered glass panels should only be used in coordination with perforated metal panels in order
to allow sufficient air flow. This combination of materials should achieve the maximum coverage from
the elements for passengers.
Following acceptance of this report by the Board of County Commissioners and identification of funding,
ATM staff will work with an engineer, with input from citizens, to develop a final design that is cost
effective, low maintenance, addresses the needs of the riders and fits within the character of the
community.
FISCAL IMPACT: The design cost discussed in this executive summary is anticipated to cost $35,000 tTh
to $50,000 and funding is available in the Transit Enhancement Project#35016 in Fund (313) which is
supported by gas taxes and a transfer from the General Fund. Depending on design selection the cost per
shelter will be between $6,500 and $8,500. Over the next 5 years 50 shelters are anticipated to be
installed or replaced at an estimated cost of$325,000 to$425,000,using transit grant funds. Maintenance
cost per shelter which includes the cost to repaint/repair every six to seven years will cost approximately
$4,600. The expected life of a shelter is 20 to 25 years.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney's Office, does not
present a legal issue and only requires a majority vote for Board approval—SRT.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Consistent with Objective 10 and 12 of the Transportation
Element of the Growth Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the report recommendations in the 2012 Bus Shelter Design Report,
allowing for two shelter sizes and a combination of materials to achieve the maximum coverage for
passengers.
Prepared By:Brandy Otero, Associate Project Manager,Alternative Transportation Modes Department.
Attachments: (1)2012 Bus Shelter Design Report
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.E.
Item Summary: Recommendation to review and approve the recommendations from the
2012 Bus Shelter Design report for the Collier Area Transit bus shelter.
Meeting Date: 12/11/2012
Prepared By
Name: OteroBrandy
Title: Project Manager,Associate,Transportation Engineer
11/8/2012 4:26:32 PM
Submitted by
Title: Project Manager,Associate,Transportation Engineer
Name: OteroBrandy
11/8/2012 4:26:34 PM
Approved By
Name: SotoCaroline
Title: Management/Budget Analyst,Transportation Administr
Date: 11/15/2012 12:27:44 PM
Name: ArnoldMichelle
Title: Director-Alt Transportation Modes,Alternative Tr
Date: 11/15/2012 2:19:48 PM
Name: AlonsoHailey
Title: Operations Analyst,Public Service Division
Date: 11/15/2012 3:47:51 PM
Name: TeachScott
Title: Deputy County Attomey,County Attorney
Date: 11/19/2012 4:13:31 PM
Name: CarnellSteve
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1/22/2013 Item 11 .E.
Title: Director-Purchasing/General Services,Purchasing
Date: 11/20/2012 4:54:15 PM
Name: TeachScott
Title: Deputy County Attomey,County Attorney
Date: 11/26/2012 9:41:51 AM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney
Date: 11/26/2012 4:06:38 PM
Name: FinnEd
Title: Senior Budget Analyst, OMB
Date: 11/27/2012 6:10:12 PM
Name: IsacksonMark
Title: Director-Corp Financial and Mgmt Svs,CMO
Date: 11/28/2012 2:33:57 PM
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
2012 Bus Shelter Design Report
Collier County Alternative Transportation Modes (ATM) Department began evaluating the current
shelter style in late 2011 in response to several questions regarding the functionality of the shelters.
Comments received questioned whether the current shelters provided sufficient protection to the
transit riders from the elements. In response to these comments,ATM staff conducted an evaluation to
determine how the current shelter could be modified to provide the most protection to the public. That
evaluation included a review of alternative materials, roof size and shelter styles for greater protection
from inclement weather experienced in Southwest Florida.
The report was broken down into three different components. The first component was a rider survey
to solicit feedback from passengers. The second component was a survey of other transit agencies
throughout Florida to determine the types of shelters used. The final component of the study included
a comparison of materials that are commonly used by manufacturers for transit shelters throughout the
area.
•
Riders Survey
Collier Area Transit distributed 200 surveys at the Radio Road Operations Transfer center facility and
inside the fixed route buses to solicit feedback from its riders regarding the current shelter styles being
used for transit. Some of the questions in the survey included the following:
• Do you like the current shelter?
• Do you think the size is adequate?
• Do you think the shelters need side panels or a larger roof?
Sixty-four surveys were received and responses showed that 55 % of the respondents favor the current
courthouse style shelter but 69% do not think the size is adequate. The chart below shows the
percentage of respondents that would like either a larger roof or the addition of side panels. In addition
to the shelter style, respondents were surveyed regarding the bike racks and waste containers provided
at each shelter, an average of 59% of passengers answered that there is not sufficient capacity. The
results of the survey are shown in the table below.
Larger Side No
Question Yes No roof panels answer Other
1 Do you like the current(courthouse)style? 35 28 1
2 Do you prefer one of the other? 8 53 3
Do you think the size of the shelter is
3 adequate? 18 44 1 1(some)
Do you think that side panels (enclosures)
4 are needed on the shelters? 33 31
Do you think that the roof should be made
5 bigger to provide more shelter? 31 33
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
Larger Side No
Question Yes No roof panels answer Other
If you had to choose between a larger roof
6 or side panels which would you prefer? 25 34 3 2(both)
Do you think that there are enough bike
7 racks provided at each shelter? 17 44 3
Are the waste receptacles at each bus stop
8 sufficient; 29 32 3
9 Are they being emptied regularly? 30 31 3
10 Is the signage at the stops sufficient? 30 34
What other amenities are needed? Please Responses included more stops, benches, shelters, water,
11 specify. buses,bike racks and added frequency.
Do you think that the advertising on the
benches or shelters would detract from
12 the appearance of the shelters? 23 40 1
Shelter Modification Preference
2% 2%
•Larger roof
I Side panels
M No answer
■Both
The survey showed the need for additional signage at each shelter. CAT has recently installed over two
hundred schedule holders at the shelters which were funded under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. The last question on the survey referenced advertising. Passengers were asked if
they thought that advertising on the shelter or benches would detract from the appearance and 63 %
answered no.
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
Comparison of Panel Materials
As part of this study, materials utilized in construction of side panels were researched. Throughout the
study it became apparent that most shelter manufacturers use one of three types of material to
construct side panels. These materials include:
• Tempered glass;
• Plexiglass; and
• Perforated metal.
Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is processed to increase its strength. Tempering creates
balanced internal stresses which cause the glass,when broken,to
crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into ?�F �
jagged shards. The smaller pieces are less likely to cause injury.
As a result of its safety and strength, tempered glass is used in a
variety of applications, including passenger vehicle windows, fix-
shower doors, architectural glass doors and tables, refrigerator t
trays, as a component of bulletproof glass, for diving masks, and
various types of plates and cookware.' Tempered glass can be expected to last the life of the shelter
provided there is no vandalism or act of nature.
Plexiglass is the name brand for a material known as Poly
rt (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). PMMA is a transparent
thermoplastic, often used as a lightweight or shatter-resistant
alternative to glass. It is also known as acrylic glass. Plexiglass is
used as an economical alternative to polycarbonate (PC) (high
impact-resistance, low scratch-resistant material, often used in
eyeglass lenses) that is used in when extreme strength is not
necessary. It is often preferred because of its moderate
properties, easy handling and processing, and low cost, but
behaves in a brittle manner when loaded, especially under an
impact force, and is more prone to scratching than --7.7 .1- 08 �4w wam { 4
r� X4-3, � ��
conventional glass? Due to the potential for scratching `. ' 4 '+ •68•o6 b /
and hazing, plexiglass has a life expectancy of eighteen t � 11 dais• �►s
to twenty four months. ` //4 i �� f
Perforated metal is made through the metal stamping - � '.,'/ •
and sheet metal manufacturing process. It has often t�\ 1r ' :Z9 •
been applied in instances where privacy is desired ���� t • q
without sunscreens without blocking the view. ��\\�\\\\� _ •.'. 4 Q0 1
Perforated metal comes in a variety of colors. It offers a ������� (1,-1)yy
comfortable level of natural lighting during daylight
hours while deflecting heat. Perforated metal needs very limited maintenance and cleaning and is long
lasting.3
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toughened glass
2 http://www.ask.com/wiki/Poly(methyl methacrvlate)
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perforated metal
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
Each material was considered for application in bus shelters.There are advantages and disadvantages to
all three types of materials.
Tempered glass is impervious to weather and maintains 55 .. " �•.., ,, ,,- 1,w :—
1 m „: ;�; <, i 2as•its clarity over time. It is difficult to scratch and it doesn t r ,,,0„”:,.
need a frame to be rigid unlike the Plexiglass or the °` , ^
perforated metal. A disadvantage to tempered glass is ' Ma
that it is not breathable. Tempered glass cannot be
applied to all sides of the shelter for maximum .
protection, due to the fact that air will not circulate l-
within the shelter. Many agencies have designs etched '
into the tempered glass to improve visibility for the
public.
FFIIIIIIIIII
t
,t p . t'7,-'', .—�. Tempered Glass Shelter
i• Plexiglass is impervious to weather, however, like Tempered
glass, it is not breathable. Plexiglas can accumulate scratches
which may give it a dull or dirty look within eighteen to
twenty-four months that can't be cleaned. Sometimes, the
scratches can attract mildew which might make the shelter
appear yellow and dingy. Due to the detraction from the
appearance of shelters and the limited life expectancy of this
Plexiglass Shelter material, plexiglass is not being recommended as a viable
option for CAT shelters.
Perforated metal is unbreakable and the most Firm
durable. It is available in many different colors. The i '`
passage of air, liquid, and heat can be regulated by +; ;,, .L
the size of the perforations. The only disadvantage of ;1,
perforated metal is that it's difficult to clean if V' - :,t,�
scratched or marked up, however, it is easy to repaint 4 , .'
which alleviates maintenance concerns.
,at
'° .- ,O"
Perforated Metal Shelter
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
Shelter Size Constraints r�
In addition to considering shelter materials, the size of the existing shelter was also evaluated. The
existing shelters offer a minimum level of protection from the elements due to the limited roof
coverage.
The courthouse style shelter is required to be placed on a 9' x 20' concrete pad. Retrofitting existing
locations with bus shelters is difficult due to limited right of way. In order to increase the size of the
roof,the footprint of the shelter and the amount of right of way required must also be increased.
When identifying locations for placement of bus shelters, there must be sufficient right of way. Federal
funding is currently used for shelter construction. If shelters are not constructed within existing right of
way, coordination with the Federal Transit Administration must occur to ensure compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act and The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
Policies Act of 1970,which can increase construction time and costs.
Cost Analysis
Currently Collier County has two styles of shelters but the courthouse style shelter is the preferred style
and has been the standard for all newly installed shelters over the last four years. The courthouse style
bus shelters currently cost approximately$6,540. Inquiries were made to a bus shelter manufacturer to
obtain cost estimates for the various side panel materials and a larger shelter roof. The cost for each
type of material can vary greatly depending on the quantity ordered. Once a final determination is
made on the desired material to be used for future shelters, staff will competitively procure the new
shelter to comply with both local and federal requirements.
Costs are considered for a variety of options in this section. Panels can be added to the current
courthouse style shelter; however,the style would need to be modified slightly. The existing scrolls and
grillwork will need to be removed in order to add panels to the shelter.
The tempered glass panels offer the most protection, however they are not breathable and due to wind
load requirements; the current shelter cannot accommodate glass panels. The 3" columns must be
upgraded to 4" columns which will increase costs slightly. The costs in the table below assume the
column change.
Material Shelter Type At sir arm=aremrsonsim
Type Current Shelter Larger Roof ( - rte
Perforated Metal $7,695 $8,450
Tempered Glass $7,195 $7,950
Combination* $7,495 $8,250
Combination* s
$6,500-$7,500
Option B � �
*Perforated metal panels on the back and tempered glass side panels.
Courthouse Style Shelter
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1/22/2013 Item 11.E.
In addition to the current courthouse style shelters, there is another option for a shelter. The
courthouse style shelter is more expensive because it is a custom made shelter. Many suppliers have a
shelter that is marketed to several areas. The shelter shown as "Option B" is from Lee County. This
photo depicts a shelter with perforated rear panels and glass side panels. The supplier has indicated
that they can mirror the courthouse style color scheme and minimize costs as shown in the table above.
Option B
m„�
,
•
S kbpyau ;t {
Recommendations
Several factors must be considered when determining shelter styles and materials. Safety, comfort of
the passengers, and available right of way must be addressed.
If the roof of the shelter and the footprint of the shelter are increased, the amount of right of way
needed will also increase. It is difficult to identify locations currently; increasing the size of the shelter
will only exasperate the issue. It is recommended to maintain two shelter sizes, the current size for
areas where existing right of way is restricted, and the second with the larger roof for areas where right
of way permits.
While plexiglass panels offer more flexibility, it is still not breathable. Plexiglass becomes hazy after a
few years and visibility inside the shelter can be reduced. In addition, maintenance costs may be higher
due to the scratches that can accumulate and cleaning requirements to prevent mildew.
In order to achieve the maximum shelter while minimizing costs, a combination of materials (example
shown above in Option B) is recommended. Although the tempered glass panels have the lowest cost,
they are the least desirable for the entire shelter. Tempered glass should be utilized for the side panels
to allow visibility into the shelter at all times. Tempered glass panels should only be used in
coordination with perforated metal panels in order to allow sufficient air flow. This combination of
materials should achieve the maximum coverage from the elements for passengers.
Following acceptance of this report by the Board of County Commissioners and identification of funding,
ATM staff will work with an engineer, with input from citizens, to develop a final design that is cost
effective, low maintenance, addresses the needs of the riders and fits within the character of the
community.
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