Incorporating Mobility on Demand into Public Transit in Suburban Areas: A Comparative Evaluation of Cost-Effectiveness
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2024-08-01
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Edition:Final Research Report (2022 – 2023)
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Abstract:Traditional fixed-route transit services are inefficient in low-density areas due to limited and dispersed service demand. Many transit agencies look for effective alternatives to provide adequate transportation services in these areas, especially by leveraging mobile ICT-enabled new mobility services. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of transit incorporating mobility-on-demand (TIMOD) compared to fixed-route bus transit, driving alone, and commercial ride-hailing services in suburban areas. It develops a comprehensive analytical framework to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TIMOD and other alternatives from a societal perspective, considering differences in built environments. The analysis accounts for travelers’ monetary and time costs, service providers’ operating costs, and environmental externalities. Using real-world data from the Metro Flex program in the Seattle region and estimates based on simulation, the study compares the economic cost of Metro Flex trips with equivalent trips made using other travel modes in two different suburban areas. The results indicate that, in our study areas, Metro Flex trips have a total generalized cost for travelers that is higher than driving alone but lower than fixed-route transit and ride-hailing trips. Adding service operation and emission abatement costs, Metro Flex becomes less cost-effective than all the alternatives due to high operating costs and a higher proportion of deadheading, however, the difference is slight in comparison to fixed-route transit. Our findings also show that areas with higher density and more transit services result in lower operation costs per rider for the transit agency. Incorporating equity into the cost-effectiveness analysis shows that Metro Flex has a more equitable distribution of travel cost than fixed-route transit, but riders with high median income will have larger reductions in their travel time cost using Metro Flex compared to fixed-route transit. The study highlights the potential benefits and tradeoffs of providing TIMOD services in suburban areas, shedding light on the conditions under which such services are economically competitive.
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