Reshaping Urban Landscapes: Study Reveals Residents' Priorities in Railway Station Transformations
A recent study conducted as part of the ISTP research project Co-Creating Mobility Hubs has shed new light on resident preferences in the transformation of railway stations. The findings, published in the journal European Planning Studies, highlight the significance of railway stations as integral components of local communities.
The study was led by ETH researchers and ISTP members Michael Wicki, Sophie Hauller, Thomas Bernauer, and David Kaufmann, and co-financed with the national railway company of Switzerland, SBB. The study sought to understand how residents perceive railway stations and what functions they value most in these urban nodes. The team utilized an adaptive survey experiment and harnessed the services of bike couriers to distribute survey invitations to over 2,000 Swiss residents.
The results revealed that residents prioritize non-commercial functions such as transportation and public space over commercial offerings like retail and services. This insight challenges the prevailing perception of railway stations as mere transport hubs or shopping centers and underscores their broader role in shaping local identities through their function as public spaces. As cities continue to evolve, the study serves as a reminder that a holistic approach to urban development is essential, one that places the desires and needs of residents at the forefront.
The complete study, titled "Beyond a transport node? What residents want from transforming railway stations," can be accessed external page here.
For deeper insights into the underlying research project, visit the research project website.