IndyGo Bus Rapid Transit Station Design Competition

IndyGo Bus Rapid Transit Station Design Competition

Website: http://www.indygo.net/redlinedesign/

 Unknown, Indiana, Unknown

PLEASE REVIEW THE FULL COMPETITION ENTRY BRIEF AND FORMS BEFORE APPLYING!

(links at bottom of listing).  

The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) is currently in the process of designing the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will stretch 35 miles through Westfield, Carmel, Indianapolis and Greenwood. The initial 13.6 mile phase would be complete in 2018. The Red Line would be the first BRT system in Indiana, as well as the first all-electric BRT system in the country. For more information about the Red Line, visit http://ww.indygo.net/redline.

As part of the overall system design, IndyGo is facilitating a design ideas competition to foster creative design solutions for 28 rapid transit stations along Phase One of the Red Line BRT route with possible replication of these stations along the two future phases.  This competition is a one-stage, open-ideas competition. It will require two separate concept-level station designs, one for center platforms and one for curbside platforms. The winning design team will receive a $5,000 cash prize (2ndPlace – $2,000; 3rd Place – $1,000). No follow up design or construction contracts will be awarded upon winning this design competition, and applicants will retain any relevant copyrights to their design (but will license the use of the concept to IndyGo). IndyGo consultants currently under contract will be responsible for adapting the winning concept(s) into final design and construction documents. This competition is facilitated by IndyGo, along with the Red Line engineering consultants who will serve as technical advisors.

The goals of this design competition are to develop a station concept that:

  • Maximizes the benefits of rapid transit to riders
  • Reflects the culture of Indianapolis and its neighborhoods
  • Conveys a sense of safety and elegance
  • Can be built in a cost effective and sustainable manner
  • Integrates with other modes of transportation
  • Portrays a functional, effective, and reliable transit system

DESIGN OBJECTIVES

The design submissions will be judged around three design objectives (feasibility, placemaking, and rider experience), giving all three equal weight.

Feasibility:  The designs should be realistic in terms of upfront capital expenditure and should consider long term maintenance costs. Stations should be robust, easy to replicate, and built to last.  Stations should mitigate their overall impact on the environment.

Placemaking:  The designs should be flexible enough to complement the surrounding area/neighborhood while still representing the culture of Indianapolis as a whole. Stations should be aesthetically appealing. Designs should incorporate customizable features that allow stations to be adjusted post construction to reflect the character of an individual neighborhood/area, e.g. cultural and historic district identification or public art. Designs that are flexible enough to fit aesthetically into both historic districts and newer areas of the city will be rated more highly.

Rider Experience:  The stations should create a safe, welcoming, and integrated experience. Stations should serve to attract ridership. Stations are easily accessible by both able-bodied pedestrians as well as those with mobility limitations.  Designs practically integrate and encourage multi-modal connectivity.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Submissions must incorporate:

  • ADA compliant ramps and clearances
  • Overhead rain/snow protection for riders
  • A bus arrival time digital sign
  • A ticket vending machine location
  • Bicycle parking on the station or nearby
  • Opportunities for neighborhood customization

Submissions should consider, but are not required to include, elements which address:

  • Signage and wayfinding
  • Protection from wind and sun
  • Seating
  • Trash receptacles

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET

The construction budget to be considered during the design process is differentiated by design and non-design elements, and is further divided by platform type. A submittal is only responsible for considering the cost of design elements, which include, but are not limited to, the canopy, furniture, accessories, landscaping/art, railings, and decorative pavement treatment. Non-design elements are those such as the concrete, communications equipment, drainage, and utilities. Budgets for each station type are:

  • Station 1 (center) has a total budget of $581,000 each, of which $320,000 is available for design elements.
  • Station 2 (curbside) has a total budget of $469,000 each, of which $244,000 is available for design elements. This is the cost per side, not for the pair of stations that typically comprise a station area.

ELIGIBILITY:  Anyone, anywhere in the world is eligible to submit a design according to the competition’s format and rules. There is no fee or prequalification for participation in this competition. Individuals, teams or firms may submit, and may submit multiple entries.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

  • May 26, 2016:  Release competition call for entries and registration open
  • June 13, 5:00 p.m. E.D.T.:  Deadline for written questions
  • June 17:  Questions answered
  • July 1, 5:00 p.m. E.D.T.:  Deadline to register for competition
  • July 8, 5:00 p.m.  E.D.T.:  Deadline for competition entries
  • July 18 – 28:  Public forums and written comment period on submitted entries
  • August 2, 2016:  Winning design announced

EVALUATION PROCESS

This design competition is a single phase process that will be reviewed by IndyGo and the Red Line engineering consultants for technical and financial feasibility prior to the judging process. Qualifying submittals will be blindly judged by an 8-person selection panel of community leaders. In addition to the selection panel, all qualified submittals will be voted on by the public both online and via an in-person public forum. The design with the highest total votes from the public will receive the equivalent of one (1) vote on the selection panel. The aggregate rankings from the panel and the public vote will select first place, second place, third place, and honorable mention designs. Rankings will be assessed based on how well the designs achieve and address the questions and goals of each of the three design objectives. A summary report will be distributed explaining the rationale for the decision.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Applicants must first register for the competition, before 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2016.  To register, entrants will need to sign an affidavit granting the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation licensing and rights as outlined in the competition rules. This affidavit is located in the full Call for Entries document (attached) and the completed form should be sent in an email to IndyGobus@gmail.com along with the name, telephone number, and email address of the entrant or team leader. The subject line of this initial email should read “Red Line Station Design Competition.”  A confirmation of registration along with a 5-digit registration number will be emailed to the registrant in response. Each design submission (a submission includes both center-running and curbside station types) will require a separate registration number, and this registration number will be used for the remainder of the competition to identify each entry. Other than the registration number, all submittal documents should be free of any names, logos, or other personally or professionally identifying features of the entrant(s).

The design submission is due before 5:00 p.m. on July 8, 2016 and consists of the following:

  • NARRATIVE MATERIAL
    • A short (one or two page) design brief in .DOC or .DOCX format, describing the overall design, inspiration, and notable features with a clear expression of design objectives. Features/areas that can be customized for each station/neighborhood should be described. The file should be submitted as “Statement_12345.doc[x]” where “12345” is the assigned 5-digit registration number.
    • A single page document in .DOC or .DOCX format with team identification and contact information. The file should be submitted as “ID_12345.doc” and should include the following:
      • Project title
      • Firm name (if applicable) 
      • Team member name(s) 
      • Identification of team leader (if applicable)
      • Team leader/entrant telephone number 
      • Team leader/entrant mailing address 
      • Team leader/entrant email address
  • GRAPHIC MATERIAL 
    • A maximum of six (6) views (at least one of each station type) in .jpg or .png format at a resolution of at least 300 dpi. The files should be submitted as “View1_12345.jpg”, “View2_12345.jpg”, etc., where “12345” is the assigned 5-digit registration number.  The 5-digit registration number should be the only identifying feature in these images; no other personal or professionally identifying features are allowed. The “View1” file will be used as the primary image for the submission.
    • One (1) view of each station type, annotated to identify the location of required design elements (i.e. ADA compliance ramps, protection from weather, bus arrival time, ticket vending machine, bicycle parking, and customizable areas) as well as any other elements the entrant considers noteworthy, in .jpg or .png at a resolution of at least 300 dpi. The files should be submitted as “Annotated1_12345.jpg” and “Annotated2_12345.jpg”. The 5-digit registration number should be the only identifying feature in these images; no other personal or professional identifying features are allowed.

The above submission materials should be sent in a single zip file with the 5-digit registration number, e.g. “12345.zip”. Send the file via email to IndyGobus@gmail.com no later than 5:00pm on July 8, 2016. The email subject line should read “Registration Number_1235.”

Questions?  Email IndyGobus@gmail.com with the subject line “Red Line Design Competition Questions.”

/sites/indyartsguide.org/file/Red%20Line%20Design%20Competition%20FINAL.pdf

/sites/indyartsguide.org/file/Competition%20License%20Agreement.pdf

/sites/indyartsguide.org/file/Platform%20Design%20Standards.pdf