Planning and assessment system for light rail transit construction in Taiwan

The development of public transportation systems is emphasized worldwide. Energy conservation and carbon reduction are necessary and constitute a constraint for the government. Promoting the development of public transportation systems is essential for urban development. A planning and assessment system for light rail transit (LRT) system construction can assist governments in prioritizing cities for LRT system construction. This study confirmed 7 assessment dimensions and 19 assessment indicators and weights for assessing the priority of cities for LRT system construction. Through the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, this study applied systematic thinking to decompose complex factors into hierarchical indicators. With the integration of expert opinions, an empirical study was conducted on three selected cities in Taiwan that are currently undergoing planning for LRT system construction. The research results may serve as a crucial reference for the government's decision regarding the investment in LRT system construction.