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 g...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
• Authors: El-Geneidy, A., Tétreault, P. & Surprenant-Legault, J.
• Keywords: Accessibility To Transit, And Gaps In Transit Service, GIS, Pedestrian Access, Redundancy In Transit Service, Service Area, Transit Planning