Transport Interchanges Effects on their Surroundings in Tunja (Colombia) and Cordoba (Spain): A Comparative Approach

Abstract

This article proposes a methodology to study the urban implications of transport interchanges. The methodology was evaluated through the study of commercial establishments and urban quality in the surroundings of two transport interchanges. The case studies are a bus station in Colombia and a combined high-speed rail and bus station in Spain. The article draws two types of conclusions; firstly, that the comparative methodology proposed is effective in determining the influence of transport interchanges and secondly that it provides specific conclusions about the activities in the station's surrounding area. The article demonstrates that the surroundings of the transport interchanges have greater commercial activity than similar areas of the city. It also concludes that the different income levels of HSR and bus users provoke a variety and quantity of commercial activities within each type of station. Furthermore, it concludes that the perceived quality of the interchange surroundings is deeply influenced by its level of integration within the urban plan, despite the negative side effects related to transport.