Syracuse CoE Intermodal Transportation Facility (ITF)
Design Forum (6/19/06)
The Marx Hotel, Syracuse, NY
Comments and Ideas
The forum was moderated by the EPA Region 2 Environmental Finance Center at
The Maxwell School (Syracuse University), with additional facilitation assistance
from the Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts (PARC) at
Maxwell, Syracuse CoE, Syracuse University (SU) Career Services Office, SU
Center for Public and Community Service, and SU/SUNY ESF Office of
Environment and Society (EnSPIRE).
Seventy-six people participated representing academia, nonprofit organizations,
community and environmental groups, businesses, manufacturers, transportation
agencies, local government officials, and the general public.
Brainstorming occurred around the following questions:
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What type of programming should the new ITF embody/promote?
What are some design elements that should be included in the new ITF?
What process should SU and the CoE follow to continue this design scoping
process?
Note: Some ideas below were placed under one category, but share components
of both programming and design.
Programming Ideas
Flexibility needs to incorporate different modes of transportation
Have bike lanes/paths and “weatherize” these – more bike “connectivity”
Incorporate towropes to get up hill
Uses buses to carry bikes
Have a major security presence (sub-station of SU Public Safety)
Provide electric cars and a “fuel store”
Manage a bike exchange (web coordinated, could be sponsored by corporations)
Provide a bike rental program
Co-locate a bike repair shop
Engage community with the facility – economic opportunities, bench marking
Enhance CoE neighborhood services – dry cleaners, groceries, restaurants, and list of
what services are around
Be a primary hub for various modes of transportation to the airport, train/bus station (link
to this regional intermodal center), inner harbor, malls, creekwalk, Amory Square,
downtown, regional points of interest, etc.
Connect to “On Track” for SU games, and rail in general (how to do this?)
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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Clarify how motorized wheelchairs fit signage
Provide a fleet of bikes to use by people coming on different modes
Provide numerous support facilities – food, restrooms, ATM, coffee shop, business
center, dry-cleaner, etc., so folks don’t need to leave for services
Co-locate car rental facilities
De-emphasize cars
Have programming tied to a nearby closed street
Put tourist center at ITF (move from Canal Museum)
Provide joint parking for people who work on the hill SU/SUNY/Crouse – don’t just have
this be an SU focused facility (this will help bring the “Hill” community closer together)
Develop a bus only lane from the CoE to the “Hill”
Develop a parking master plan with input from SU/hospitals/CC/CoE
Incorporate preferential treatment of traffic lights for bikes and buses from CoE to hill
Closing selected street(s) for bus/bike use only somewhere between CoE and hill
Beyond simple services, the ITF needs attractions (attractions that have public feel will
bring-in groups); such as, an aquarium, cultural displays/symbols, a speaker’s corner
(“soap box”), musicians, an art gallery, a swan pond, trees, a playground, a café/wine bar,
a newsstand, etc.)
Incorporate features that enhance the entire city/area: outpost satellite for the Chamber of
Commerce, etc.
Pull-off area for taxis
Have visible and interactive “way-finding” – good signage, events kiosks, schedules
Provide a preference for taxis using alternative fuels
Beyond the ITF, have the ITF sponsor a bike pick-up/drop off at several sites throughout
the city
Have shuttles to secondary parking
Focus on the development potential of surrounding area, attract high tech businesses
Have the ITF be an international model of transportation – consider the following:
gondola, monorail (convert Interstate 81 to this), cycles, pedestrian, buses, cars, alternate
fuel (electric, hybrid, ethanol), parking and shuttle for University, medical, airport,
downtown
The ITF should be a portal; an “Introduction to Syracuse”
Incorporate educational messages about the CoE, and have “visitors center info. on CoE
Develop unique partnerships with private developers
Have secure alternatives (exp. what to do with if you have a bike and it rains)
Have a “home grown” display (local products)
Develop relationship with and use Time Warner’s assistance (one block away)
The ITF should be a catalyst for local development
Provide a hotel/accommodation board
Have “Little car – smart card car” programs
Develop a computer-based ride-sharing program (similar to Washington, San Fran.)
Have interpretive exhibits – historical (Erie Canal), explain intermodal (how to use), etc.
Require vehicles to be green that are owned by CoE
Discounts (to use facility) provided for alternative energy vehicles and for students – (this
will encourage use by students and use of alt. energy)
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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Progressive trash pickup/recycling – keep it clean!, regular pick up, etc. (similar to
Disney model) – make it inviting (incentive to leave it that way)
Transportation to key areas in city to encourage settling residentially
Develop Light rail system – Destiny USA, for commuters
Connect with “Connective Corridor” – develop technology and processes using SU as
model and look at other corridors
Have the ITF mimic the “common center” of 50 years ago where all things come together
(center for community, center of connectivity)
Encourage hydrogen buses (like Chicago)
Provide PODS of NEV around town
The ITF should embody a systematic approach that is transparent, and shows
connectivity to the entire CNY transportation system
Connecting by concept – empire link, proposed by 7 community colleges (including
OCC)
Develop a bikeway/cruise way – all year use – 8 ft wide roadway built in the air,
consistent/height rise, 5 horse motor, carries bicycles up, cruise down – SURC
Coordinated with current bike NEV
The CoE should own fleet of NEV
Design Elements
The facility should be easy to access, well thought out, convenient and flexible
Performance category – make things easier
Incorporate Segways vehicles – personal human transportation, could move people, 30
mi – feet
It should be co-located with the CoE headquarters
Incorporate a loading dock
Have places to change clothes and take shower
Provide lockers
Provide protected storage for bikes
Use a wind generator – to power vehicles
Have it be a USGBC LEED certified parking garage/facility
Have plenty of open space (for picnic tables, receptions, an “underground”, an open-air
market, glass enclosed waiting area, educational opportunities while waiting, etc.)
Incorporate innovative lighting/safety
Make the ITF a hot spot for Internet connection
Keep passengers protected in winter, open in good weather
The ITF should be environmentally friendly:
- energy from renewables (p-v cells, etc.)
- natural habitats (bird box/nesting)
- environmentally friendly surfaces
- don’t create more urban heat islands
- design for run-off/drainage concerns (e.g., run off into vegetative swales to filter
out pollutants)
- “green” roof, community garden
Provide a storage area for snow
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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Facility should be inconspicuous, aesthetically pleasing, (i.e.: incorporate underground
wiring)
Build in flexibility for future transportation (roller-bladers?)
The ITF should visibly exhibit state-of-the art technology with all its function (WI-FI,
interactive GIS capabilities, etc.)
Incorporate geothermal system (melt snow, heated sidewalks)
Pay particular attention to sidewalks
Have security cameras
Develop a parking garage (above grade)
Needs to be expandable
Have a Helipad on top
Permeable pavement parking lot – green parking design
Design so that it can accommodate another structure on top of garage – “densify”
Provide comfortable waiting areas with access to TV (have programming that would
promote sustainability)
Have mixed use – build residential and commercial apartments/stores on top
“Plug ins” for hybrid vehicles and electric bicycles/scooters
Utilize “Eco-creto” – Mexican product, concrete provides 100% drainage
Utilize “Glassphalt” – helps with recycling of glass locally
Model after Curatiba, Brazil Q model for buses, efficiency, and cleanliness
Develop Greenwalls on parking garage
Have a CN6 station
Address Water Street – does not go anywhere, concealed areas to be improved
Input Generation Process (Scoping) Ideas
Solicit input from: local neighbors, students, folks living very close (what they need,
what they would use)
Get input from elderly on their needs: turning radius, signage, etc.
Have more public participation in design
Have a programming process that produces a continuous study on who is going where
and where are they coming from?
Collaborate with the Centro intermodal project
Follow federal and state processes to keep funding sources available
Have public opinion survey
Talk to business groups
Provide forums for public, to educate and define facility, and to continue brainstorming
Have stakeholder sessions – e.g., specific investment groups
Sponsor focus groups
Use proto-type models to serve as example
Educate elected leadership (local, state, fed.)
Sponsor a design contest
Develop a lot of publicity – news articles, etc.
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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Top Ideas from Participants
As Forum participants left, they were asked to write down a single, top idea for the
facility. Here are their responses:
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Close downtown/university streets and transport from IMF via bikes/buses/golf carts
Work with city to develop bike lanes along main routes (e.g. Genesee Street, Erie
Blvd. Euclid Ave.)
Weatherized (all season) pathway for bikes, walking
Hook up with existing mass transit systems (Amtrak, Airport, Centro)
Create a highly sustainable and regenerative center that: 1) introduces, educates,
demonstrates and supports the use of all available transportation, giving favor to those
transport technologies that have the least impact (i.e. walk, bike, elec.); 2) Provides
technology, cultural, education opportunity to make the wait time productive.
Engage local neighborhoods
Program to attract people
Develop surrounding area/assist businesses, adding new
Include community in getting input
Make it convenient, comfortable
Incorporate open areas
Communication center
Safety and security
Collaborate with Intermodal Transportation Facility under construction by Centro
Provide alternatives to cars to max extent possible via bike routes/facilitating buses,
safe pedestrian access, wheelchairs, etc.
Must have state of the art internet café with: international newsstand, large real-time
AV screen with CNN, BBC, etc., small chamber of commerce outpost, transportation
kiosk interactive that highlights how to get from point A to point B
Convenient and economical, connection to airport and regional transportation center
Options to multiple methods of transportation from any location (arrive by bike, leave
by bus…look outside!)
Conduct a parking master plan for hill area and tie design criteria into the master plan
Environmentally friendly surfaces and materials for the parking and transit area
(Parking lot at Ithaca Farmer’s Market as model)
Center of connectivity
Curatiba (Brazil) terminal queue and development connections
NEV fleet and charging
Euro-creto surfaces and/or glassphalt
Integrated/connected with SMTC bike map routes
Involve all transportation agencies in the planning process to integrate environmental
demonstration
Glass enclosed (LEED certified) mixed-use facility with wireless/newsstand/coffee
shop/gallery space/local business reviews
A heated and cooled structure that will enhance lives while waiting for their desired
mode of transportation
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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Designed to support multi-stories above garage for offices and residential
Needs to be an attraction!! A place where people want to go!!
Integrate into local community
Facilitate development
Follow federal/state processes
Safety and security
Global aspects – integration of existing processes (ex. canal corridor, special purpose
district) etc.
Environmental friendly design
Universal design so that facility can be used by handicapped and aging community
Focus the intermodal facility on its relation to the connective corridor and the
university and hospital complex. The site is too small for it to be anything more than
that. It is not a replacement for the regional transportation center.
Needs to be convenient, should look to connect to all other existing transportation
facilities
Dependable, reliable transportation alternatives to the car
Provide convenient, safe, inexpensive transportation between key parts of city (SU,
airport, rail and bus business and public areas like Carousel).
Integrate the center with the intermodal transportation center that Centro plans to
build downtown.
Truly intermodal (bikes (free), pedestrians, buses, taxis, cars). Public participation.
Close a roadway between hill and transportation center for bus-bike only.
Use of neighborhood electrical vehicles
Safety (communication involvement and local people/network display or cultural
information.
Connection with local large apartment system
Aquarium for fun
Joint/common parking for all university hill employees with frequent bus service to
university hill and exclusive bus lanes and preferential treatment at traffic lights.
Inventory of existing parking for SU campus and hospitals and master planning to
consolidate existing and future parking needs
Interconnectivity with existing intermodal transportation center (train station) and
airport.
Cruise (bike) way – an 8 foot wide road between elevated train where bikers would
cruise, no pedaling, a 5hp motor would carry bikers up and then cruise down. A
NAV and bike center with series of pods around town where you can borrow the
NAV and bikes for local travel.
Bicycle sharing – owned by city, available for use by all. Bicycle friendly streets with
bike paths, bike racks at strategic points.
Reroute most existing bus lines past this site and the connective corridor buses and
have credit and smart cars and smart bikes available for use to go in the metro area. It
is also the bus transfer hub for Centro.
Encourage use of alternative fuel by providing a discount.
Interpretive exhibits
ITF Design Forum, 6/19/06
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