Transit Stop Spacing Calculator

Design stop spacing balancing walking and travel time. Use presets for bus, BRT, rail quickly. See results instantly, then export clear reports for teams.

Calculator Inputs

Hybrid combines access and speed when possible.
Optional preset to seed typical values.
Total length between corridor terminals.
m
Typical: 300–500 m bus, 600–900 m rail.
Adjust for barriers and street permeability (0.7–1.1).
Used for target and run speed fields.
Average including stops (e.g., 16–28 km/h).
Cruising speed excluding dwell (e.g., 30–60 km/h).
s
Include boarding, alighting, door cycles.
m/s²
Typical: 0.8–1.3 m/s².
m/s²
Typical: 0.9–1.5 m/s².
s
Adds margin for signals, merging, variability.
m
Construction/ROW or safety constraints.
m
Use to cap spacing in low-density contexts.
Used only when method is “Fixed stop count”.

Formula Used

Coverage (walk-based)

Stops are assumed to serve two adjacent catchments along the corridor. With effective walk reach R = walk_distance × coverage_factor:

spacing_max ≈ 2 × R

Operating speed (target)

Total time is approximated as running time plus a per-stop penalty:

time ≈ L/Vrun + N × (dwell + Vrun/a + Vrun/b + buffer)

Solve for maximum feasible stops at target speed, then:

spacing_min ≈ L / (Nmax − 1)

Hybrid picks spacing inside the feasible band when possible.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Set corridor length between terminals.
  2. Pick a stop type preset, then apply it.
  3. Choose a method: coverage, speed, hybrid, or fixed.
  4. Review spacing constraints for construction limits.
  5. Press Submit to view spacing and stop count.
  6. Export CSV or PDF for design review notes.

Tip: Start with Hybrid for planning, then refine dwell and speeds using project-specific measurements.

Example Data Table

Scenario Length (km) Walk (m) Target Speed (km/h) Run Speed (km/h) Dwell (s) Suggested Spacing (m)
Urban bus corridor 10 400 18 35 25 450–650
BRT with stations 15 600 25 45 30 700–1,100
Tram/LRT corridor 12 700 28 50 35 800–1,300
Metro line segment 20 900 35 60 40 1,000–1,600

These examples are indicative. Actual spacing depends on barriers, land use, right-of-way, and service goals.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.