INTEGRATED TRANSIT NETWORK DESIGN

Transit system design is a complex decision process. It needs to consider various issues such as transit transfer, financial viability, and redundant routes. Indirect service, where in transfer is necessary, could be a cost-effective solution. However, too many transfers would make the routes less attractive in a competitive market. On the other hand, providing too many direct routes may result in low passenger loads and service redundancy that adds to road congestion, especially in the downtown area. In a multi-modal network, cooperative or competitive interactions between co-existing transit modes further complicate the problem. This leads to the notion of an integrated transit network design. In this study, we propose a methodology for the design of transit services in an integrated system, which is implemented in a systematic 2-phase solution procedure, focusing on the integration of transport modes via possible mode-to-mode transit transfers.