BENCHMARKING OF INTERMODAL INTERFACES IN METRO STATIONS AT INTERCHANGES

Abstract

The intermodal interfaces in case of any multimodal transit hub play important role in determining the efficiency of the multimodal hub as a whole. With increasing trend of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in India, the need of integrating the MRTS with other public transport has emerged so that public transport system works as a single unit. With this idea, many multimodal MRTS stations have come up in combination with railway stations, airports, interstate (city) bus stations, etc. becoming major interchanges. This dissertation aims to study how well the interfaces between the MRTS stations and other modes cater in transferring people, to determines how integrated the multimodal transit hub is. The study is conducted in two Indian cities of New Delhi and Kolkata and German city of Munich. Based on key performance indicators, commuters were surveyed about the transfers and primary studies were done on the study areas. A descriptive comparative analysis was done for both the countries to compare perceptions of comfort at transfers at interchanges. Two statistical methods were used on the data available from surveys. Exploratory Factor Analysis was used as a method to find out latent factors from the indicators and reduce the number of indicators used as variables. Ordinal Logistic Regression was used to determine the significant factors and variables and relation between them and how each variable or factor determine perceived comfort at transfers. The results of analysis show that in Munich, the factors of transfer quality, human factor, ease of changing over to other modes available, number of level changes between MRTS and other modes and amount of time wasted at transfers significantly determine perceived comfort at transfers at interchanges. Whereas, in Indian cities, the factors of transfer quality, physical factor, human factor, ease of changing over to other modes and amount of time spent at transfers as percent of in vehicle travel time in MRTS are significant factors determining perceived comfort at transfers at interchanges