Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) Enables Better Public Space and Increases Return On Investment

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About Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)

Swiss Federal Railways is the national railway company of Switzerland. It is usually referred to by the initials of its German, French, and Italian names, either as SBB CFF FFS, or used separately. SBB was ranked first among national European rail systems in the 2017 European Railway Performance Index for its intensity of use, quality of service, and safety rating. SBB has invested in the reliability and quality of service of its conventional rail network. In addition to passenger rail, SBB operates cargo and freight rail service and has large real estate holdings in Switzerland.

Challenge:

Prior to using State of Place, SBB was dependent on mixed methods of calculating and analyzing the far-stretching urban landscapes of Switzerland. This process was slow, demanding and inefficient. SBB needed a comprehensive tool that could streamline the research and planning processes of railway development, walkability, and livability.

Solution:

SBB, utilizing State of Place, evaluated 60 railway stations in Zurich, Bern, Basel, Zug, Thun, Lucerne, and Winterthur for a total of 264 blocks. SBB was able to analyze the State of Place Index of each of the station areas along with associated real estate values, including commercial, residential, and office rents as well as owned residential properties to recalibrate the U.S.-based forecasting model. Additionally, SBB expanded the forecasting model to quantify how State of Place influences consumer behavior and satisfaction. This customization allowed SBB to calculate which urban design factors and improvements around station areas have the biggest impact on consumers and ROI.

Results:

SBB used the State of Place software to generate recommendations as to which urban design changes to make across their station areas to maximize:

  • Walkability

  • Livability

  • Economic ROI

  • Quality public spaces around their station areas - as part of their broader placemaking efforts

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Mariela Alfonzo