Terminal Binjai transport hub transformed by community-led design

This case study describes the revitalization of Terminal Binjai in Medan, Indonesia, through a community-led design process and 'tactical urbanism'. Led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and local partners as part of the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) initiative, the project transformed a neglected transit hub into an inclusive, green mobility node by integrating the needs of marginalized groups and local residents.

• Terminal Binjai was previously characterized by urban inefficiency, lacking basic amenities and accessibility, which specifically discouraged women, older people, and passengers with disabilities. This lack of safe public transit led to an increased reliance on private vehicles, which in turn worsened air quality, transport emissions, and congestion.
• The project utilized a participatory design process that included 'transect walks' with 12 participants (experts, officials, and users) to identify pain points and a design competition in January 2024. The competition involved 40 participants, nearly half of whom were women, including university students and residents.
• Physical improvements to the terminal included the installation of brighter lighting to increase safety, the creation of green spaces to mitigate the urban heat-island effect, and the development of accessible pedestrian pathways for strollers, wheelchairs, and walking aids. Additionally, navigation was improved through simplified and clearer signage.
• To support the infrastructure upgrades and establish the terminal as a node in the green mobility network, local transport agencies added 30 new buses to the bus rapid transit (BRT) system.
• The project's methodology and lessons have been codified into a Digital Mapping Toolkit. This toolkit is intended to be an adaptable framework for other cities globally to ensure marginalized community perspectives are included in urban transport planning.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Terminal Binjai transport hub transformed by community-led design. https://www.sei.org/features/terminal-binjai-transport-hub-transformed-by-community-led-design/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Terminal Binjai transport hub transformed by community-led design. 2025. https://www.sei.org/features/terminal-binjai-transport-hub-transformed-by-community-led-design/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Terminal Binjai transport hub transformed by community-led design |date=24 April 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/features/terminal-binjai-transport-hub-transformed-by-community-led-design/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025terminal, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Terminal Binjai transport hub transformed by community-led design}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/features/terminal-binjai-transport-hub-transformed-by-community-led-design/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }