Using connectivity for measuring equity in transit provision

Authors

Sigal Kaplan
Dmitrijs Popoks
Carlo Giacomo Prato
Avishai (Avi) Ceder

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2014

Subject Area

land use - transit oriented development, mode - bus, mode - rail, mode - subway/metro, operations - frequency, operations - reliability, place - europe, planning - service level, policy - equity, technology - geographic information systems

Keywords

Transit connectivity, Spatial equity, Vertical equity, Inter-generational equity, Geographical Information Systems

Abstract

This study proposes the assessment of equity in transit provision by using transit connectivity as a comprehensive impedance measure. Transit connectivity considers in-vehicle time, access/egress times, waiting time, service reliability, frequency, and ‘seamless’ transfers along multi-modal paths. In addition, transit connectivity weighs the impedance components according to their relative importance to travelers. The assessment of equity was performed for the multi-modal transit system in the Greater Copenhagen Area, renowned for its transit-oriented finger-plan. The assessment method used a GIS representation of the network (i.e., service lines, timetables, metro stations, train stations, and bus stops), and transit assignment results (i.e., level-of-service times, passenger flows). The assessment method proved effective in calculating location-based and potential-accessibility measures and Gini coefficients of inequality in the Greater Copenhagen Area. Results show that the transit-oriented development contributes to spatial equity with high connectivity in densely populated zones, vertical equity with comparable connectivity in high income and low income zones, inter-generational equity with good connectivity provision for students to higher-education and job opportunities. Also, results show that the north-west ‘finger’ is less equitable with lower connectivity for low population density and lower connectivity to higher-education opportunities regardless of the high number of students.

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

Kaplan, S., Popoks, D., Prato, C.G. & Ceder, A. (2014). Using connectivity for measuring equity in transit provision. Journal of Transport Geography, Vol. 37, pp. 82–92.