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January 17, 1995
1. Executive Summary
During the period preceding design and construction of a rail rapid transit project, the affected populace is given the opportunity to review concepts of alignment and station location. The project sponsor's concerns in the functional domain of architects and engineers are stressed at public meetings. But local neighborhood interest in appearance of the finished
products and landscaping of the station surroundings are often overlooked, or relegated to "post-construction" efforts, when it is usually too late to influence the project meaningfully.
In recent years there has been increased interest in adding art work to existing transit systems; e.g., displays on tunnel walls. But this application is limited in scope and significance. Arts-in-Transit (AIT) needs to be included in the development and evolution of the project design from the beginning in order to incorporate art that is appealing to the majority of system users. The St. Louis MetroLink project did that with outstanding success and highly favorable public reaction. However, funding was extremely difficult to acquire.
2.Background
Left to their own devices or habits, engineers tend to design rather sterile structures to satisfy the functional needs of the project. Safety and cost considerations control the designers in satisfying a performance specification. Site adaptation is about the only concession made to the need to standardize for the sake of economy, but that generally applies to only engineering matters and not the facility's appearance or environment.
Architects frequently have the opportunity to incorporate AIT considerations when the initial concepts are formulated but only if the project sponsor requires or allows it. In St. Louis, the AIT staff was allowed to influence the final design of the MetroLink system. The staff worked with the architects and engineers in considering the appearance of all aspects of the system that would be visible to the public. As a result, the entire system was designed as a work of art. The right-of-way was considered an integral part of the design, and the design of MetroLink was site-specific and relevant to St. Louis.
AIT contributed constructively to many aspects of the MetroLink project, not the least of which was the shape of piers to support elevated sections, which has won wide acclaim. However, AIT did more than simply influence choice of colors or textures, or even shapes. Working with the various neighborhoods, AIT helped to develop public art related to the stations and alignment. Art was incorporated into signage and construction markers. Very significantly, art projects were used to attract positive media attention. The outstanding ridership experienced in the system's first year of operation may be a partial indication that AIT contributions have had a very beneficial effect. As a result, patrons are inclined to consider MetroLink "their" light rail system.
3. The Lesson
Project organizations should consider and include AIT in their projects from the start of preliminary engineering. This link with the neighborhoods can provide valuable insight into "personalizing" the facilities and their surroundings.
Funding will need to be acquired from local or regional sources for the AIT effort, and this factor should be incorporated into the initial plans. If the effort is begun early enough, local businesses may serve as funding sources, just as rail cars were "sponsored" by large contributors in St. Louis.
4. Applicability
This lesson can be applied to virtually every rapid transit project in the U.S., new or old, and will be limited only by the amount of local contributions and the persistence of the AIT staff in locating them.
5. Contact
Mr. Stephen E. Willis, P.E.
Deputy Executive Director and
General Manager
MetroLink Engineering & Construction
(314) 982-1475
6. Reference Documents
None
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