A method to define public transit opportunity space

Authors

Sha A. Mamun
Nicholas E. Lownes
Jeffrey P. Osleeb
Kelly Bertolaccini

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2013

Subject Area

operations - performance, place - north america, mode - bus

Keywords

Transit accessibility, Trip coverage, Transit connectivity, Transit performance measure, Transit opportunity

Abstract

A public transit performance measure quantifying the ease of reaching a destination from a given location is important for describing the efficiency and convenience of public transit. In this paper, a new method for quantifying public transit performance, the Transit Opportunity Index (TOI), is presented. This measure accounts for both transit accessibility (the level of access to the transit system) and transit connectivity (the system’s provision of services between origins and destinations) by combining measures of spatial coverage, temporal coverage, and trip coverage. Spatial and temporal coverage measures are calculated using an origin–destination (O–D) representation of the transit network and then combined to create a transit accessibility score for each O–D pair. Transit accessibility is weighted by a binary connectivity parameter and a connectivity decay factor. The connectivity decay factor is derived from a travel time-based logistic function to reflect the decreasing connectivity with increasing travel time. The binary connectivity parameter and the connectivity decay factor are used to account for trip coverage, or transit connectivity. The Transit Opportunity Index (TOI) is then applied to the bus network of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. The results of this case study suggest that the TOI is a more complete and practical measure of public transit service performance than previously established measures. This method also has the potential to identify transfer zones for public transit trips between O–D pairs without direct connections. However, the TOI is most powerful when used in conjunction with a public transit demand measure to identify underserved areas.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Journal of Transport Geography home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09666923

Recommended Citation

Mamun, S.A., Lownes, N.E., Osleeb, J.P., & Bertolaccini. (2013). A method to define public transit opportunity space. Journal of Transport Geography, Vol. 28, pp. 144-154.