Did another version, brought the bridge closer, reduced the output caps to 220uf, reoriented the diodes and caps. Ground plane looks more fragmented though.
I had a 1000 uf cap there (the slot could hold upto 2200uf i think) following the general guideline of 1000 uf per amp and it was advised (post 11) that I should reduce it. Whats a good value for output caps here.
The large filter capacitors need to be placed just after the rectification, BEFORE the regulators. When filtering raw rectified AC, you need capacitors with a high capacitance. The lower the capacitance, the more "ripple" you'll see.
The regulators require their own caps for stability, to prevent oscillations. You need to check the datasheet and application notes for your particular regulator to find the right values for those capacitors.
input caps are currently 1000uf in the schematic, the slot can hold upto 2200uf easily. I think that should be enough for 1.5A current. The caps at the output of the regulator are 220uf. The datasheet mentions 1uf at the output, says not needed for stability, but might improve transient response. I willl increase the slot size and then I guess after taking some measurements, will decide what value to put there.