A framework to locate new medium and high capacity stations for public transportation modes of transport in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The urbanization process to which the Brazilian metropolitan regions are submitted has not sustainably taken place. These regions are characterized by the dichotomous center-periphery model of expansion of cities, characterizing an urban spread that induces a permanent-growth, of low densities, towards the urban borders, being the main cause of the challenges and difficulties found in the urban mobility of cities. In this way, more peripheral neighborhoods are progressively created, causing the emptying of traditional centers and generating gradual migratory flows for city residents. The mobility crisis has to do not only with the pattern of transport but with the use and occupation of land in a city that is much more dispersed, there is much more difficulty in mobility. The inadequate supply of urban public transportation in many of the major cities in Brazil encourages the use of private transportation specifically for long-distance and time travel. Lack of public transportation hinders the general accessibility of the population to leisure, culture, social or economic activities. This research aims to propose a procedure for evaluating the priority location for planning new medium and high-capacity transport stations that takes into account the position and occupation of dwellings in cities, taking consideration the interaction between the public transport network and urban land use. As well as considering the necessity to build up a systematized approach, equipped with tools that help in understanding this phenomenon and the relationships between the studied subsystems. The proposed framework is exemplified using People Near Transit (PNT) and population density indicators, in a study of the neighborhoods of the city of Rio de Janeiro, a major Brazilian city. The results obtained through the use of the proposed framework identified the neighborhoods in which the public power can intervene to improve the mobility of the users, facilitating the daily displacements using public transportation. It is noted that the present work contributes to the literature to complement the existing studies on the theme. In addition, the proposed model can be applied in other municipalities, allowing the analysis of the impact of urban mobility strategies on other socioeconomic transport systems. Therefore, this study contributes to the planning of cities, allowing, through a decision support model, to analyze the impact on urban transport systems. • The paper presents a framework to choose the best locations for new transport stations. • Interactions between the public transport network and urban land use are considered. • The use of PNT and population density indicators is proposed. • A study involving the neighborhoods of the city of Rio de Janeiro is performed. • Correct location of stations allows higher public transportation accessibility.