Discussion
Site Considerations
- A building is an essential part of a transportation system, which typically comes at a significant capital cost and its design influences the daily operating costs of the system. Two primary factors should be considered through this planning process:
- Site Consideration
- Buildings
Building
- Buildings should be planned to provide efficient and reliable service and minimize system operating costs. Daily and long-term operations should be evaluated with other existing facilities to leverage efficiencies and create best value for the system as a whole. The building should effectively facilitate vehicles and personnel efficiently to support the Transportation System.
- The building, exterior service, and storage areas location and orientation should minimize visual, operational, and environmental impacts on residential and commercial neighbors. Building location on site shall facilitate sustainable, low maintenance drainage and stormwater management systems, circulation pattern, accessible access, environmental/safety concerns, and other functional and program requirements.
- Buildings should be planned with the following considerations:
- Early program development that considers end user efficiencies and maintaining operations both during construction and upon completion.
- Early community involvement to address concerns regarding appearance, operations, traffic, noise, and safety, to the extent practical.
- Space layout should optimize efficiency and functionality of operation.
- Optimize program by stacking of office space such as administrative and personnel support functions to reduce overall footprint. Shape structure and building envelope to fit operation and minimize excess volume.
- Evaluate use of energy efficient and sustainable materials to minimize operating costs.
- Evaluate use of pre-engineered or other cost effective building enclosures to minimize capital costs.
- Consider LEED methodologies if they result in long-term cost savings. LEED methodologies may be incorporated even if LEED Certification is not pursued.
- Security and access control needs to be considered.
|
