BRT Station Design Competition
Contest Updates
The submission process has closed for this contest.
Check back in April to provide feedback on submissions that have made it to the next round.
Background
Madison’s East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will introduce over 30 stations along the BRT corridor. These stations are intended to improve transit quality, comfort, and reliability, but they also can be an architectural asset to the City of Madison.
The stations will largely use the same architecture at all locations, so it is important to find a design that fits in with varied contexts, while also being easily recognizable as a BRT station.
With that being said, Metro Transit and the City of Madison are sponsoring a design concept contest, which is open for both professionals and non-professionals, to submit their design ideas, with the winners awarded a cash prize of up to $10,000.
The City will use these design concepts to develop a final architectural design for the stations. Submissions are not expected to be fully fleshed out designs, but rather conceptual renderings intended to lead into a design process.
Station Parameters
All design concepts should be mindful of the following parameters for the stations:
- Structure construction cost of no more than $300,000 each
- Station length: 60 ft
- Station configurations:
- Some center, with bus arrivals on both sides, width 12-18 ft
- Some curbside, with bus arrivals on one side, width 10-12 ft
- Ramp length into station: 15 ft
- Station components
- 14-inch raised concrete platform
- Roof covering entire platform
- Fare kiosk
- Seating
- Real time arrival sign
- Electronics cabinet to support networking equipment
- Overhead radiant heater (optionally)
- Signage indicating the BRT and wayfinding functions – but no other words or symbols
Platform Dimensions
Sample designs from other cities:
Selection Process
Submissions will undergo two initial screenings.
The first screening will be done by staff for completeness of the application and a second will be done by consultant engineers to identify concepts that could likely be constructed safely and within the given budget.
Those deemed not to have a complete application and/or not to be feasibly constructed based on information provided, will be screened out of further consideration.
Submissions that satisfy the requirements of the initial screening will be posted publicly in a manner that allows public comment on the design concepts without any information to identify who submitted each.
City of Madison professional staff will then take that public feedback, consult with various experts and regulatory agencies, and compile a summary report, evaluating each concept on the following criteria:
- Enhancing goals of overall BRT system (transit quality, comfort, reliability)
- Aesthetic appeal
- Uniquely recognizable as Madison’s BRT
- Structural flexibility to conform to different platform sizes
- Conformity to surrounding historic buildings
- Non-structural components that can be customized for neighborhood context
- Safety & accessibility
This report will make recommendations of a first, second, and third place winner. Again, it will not identify submitters by name.
The Urban Design Commission will review this report and confirm or adjust staff recommendations.
Once confirmed by the UDC, the winners will be named and stipends awarded.
The first place winner will receive $10,000 award and the second and third place design concepts will each receive a $5,000 award.
Winners must complete a W9 form and submit a signed purchase of services agreement to receive their award.
Questions?
Email: brt@cityofmadison.com.
Contest Timeline
- Public feedback on designs: Available soon
- UDC final decision: Wednesday, May 26
Get Involved!
For new meeting updates and the latest information on the Madison East-West BRT Project Development Project.
- Sign up for email and text alerts
- Email: BRT@cityofmadison.com
- Follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
East/West BRT Project
Subscribe to Bus Rapid Transit Project Updates
Bus Rapid Transit is part of MetroForward, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's plan to make a major investment in transit to speed up workforce transportation, reduce congestion, and build the transportation backbone of a vibrant regional economy.