THE IMPACT OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT FACTORS ON WALKABILITY FOR THREE DOHA METRO STATIONS

Abstract

The 2019 opening of the Doha Metro highlighted a perceived lack of connection between several new public transport system stations and their surrounding neighborhoods. Such connections are a crucial component for promoting walkability as an alternative mode of transport. The inability to walk or cycle to and around various Doha Metro stations reduces transport choices for citizens, residents, and visitors. It also unintentionally undercuts the potential socioeconomic and cultural benefits of constructing the transit system over the near- and long-term. Many factors contribute to people's decisions for using public rail transit in an urban network. However, a significant factor is the lack of a cohesive and integrated relationship between the built environment and the transport system. It is fundamental for architects, urban designers, town planners, and policymakers to understand the design and planning factors that promote and deter pedestrian behavior in the urban environment. The study assesses the relationships between pedestrian movement on streets and features of the urban environment, especially at the neighborhood and street scale near the metro stations. The study will investigate built environment factors on walkability at three different Doha Metro stations Hamad Hospital, West Bay and Al Aziziyah representing a variety of neighborhoods in the city: an urban medical-office center associated with Hamad Medical City, a high-rise business district area in West Bay, respectively, and a suburban mixed-use area near Villaggio Mall. The analysis criteria will include ground-level land uses, block sizes, street/segment length, availability and continuity of sidewalks, connectivity, and traces of observed movement patterns within the pedestrian shed radius of 250 meters (m) from the station's entrances due to the harsh climatic conditions in Doha. The study argues there appear to be significant problems for walkability in all three neighborhoods. Effectively resolving these issues in the Al Aziziyah and West Bay areas will require implementing structural development and planning solutions over the long term for the next 10-20 years. In contrast, the issues in the Hamad Hospital area offer more opportunities for short-term design refinements and enhancements to promote walkability.