Pedestrian Access to Transit: Identifying Redundancies and Gaps Using a Variable Service Area Analysis

Identifying the percentage of the population being served by a transit system in a metropolitan region is a key performance measure. This performance measure depends mainly on the definition of service area. Observing existing service areas can help in identifying existing gaps and redundancies in transit system. In the public transit industry, 400 meter (0.25 miles) buffers around bus stops and 800 meters (0.5 miles) around rail stations are commonly used to identify the area from which most transit users will access the system by foot. This research paper uses detailed origin-destination survey information to generate variable service areas that defines walking catchment areas around transit services in the Montréal region. The 400 and 800 meters service areas are greatly underestimating current coverage around transit stations. The 85th percentile walking distance to bus transit service is around 550 meters from the origin and 660 meters to the destination. A statistical model is generated to estimate walking distances to transit stations. Walking distances vary based on household and personal characteristics, trip characteristics (especially the headway), type of transit (metro, commuter rail, and bus services), and route characteristics (stop spacing). Accordingly, service areas around transit stations should vary based on the type of service being offered. The generated service areas derived from the statistical model are then used to identify gaps and redundancies in the existing transit network in Montréal region. Finally, detailed analysis examining overlapping service areas along two specific routes shows the usefulness of variable service areas in identifying areas where potential stop spacing revisions can be possible without losing coverage.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • El-Geneidy, Ahmed M
  • Tetreault, Paul
  • Surprenant-Legault, Julien
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
• Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 89th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Bus stops; Headways; Origin and destination; Pedestrian traffic; Public transit; Rail transit stations; Transit operating agencies; Travel surveys; Walking distance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Gaps; Service areas
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01154722
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 10-0837
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 14 2010 2:41PM