An Optimal Metro Design for Transit Networks in Existing Square Cities Based on Non-Demand Criterion

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study is to enhance existing transit systems by planning a new underground metro network. The design of a new metro network in the existing cities is a complex problem. Therefore, in this research, the study idea arises from the prerequisites to get out of conventional metro network design to develop a future scheme for forecasting an optimal metro network for these existing cities. Two models are proposed to design metro transit networks based on an optimal cost–benefit ratio. Model 1 presents a grid metro network, and Model 2 presents the ring-radial metro network. The proposed methodology introduces a non-demand criterion for transit system design. The new network design aims to increase the overall transit system connectivity by minimizing passenger transfers through the transit network between origin and destination. An existing square city is presented as a case study for both models. It includes twenty-five traffic analysis zones, and thirty-six new metro stations are selected at the existing street intersection. TransCAD software is used as a base for stations and the metro network lines to coordinate all these data. A passenger transfer counting algorithm is then proposed to determine the number of needed transfers between stations from each origin to each destination. Thus, a passenger Origin/Destination transfer matrix is created via the NetBeans program to help in determining the number of transfers required to complete the trips on both proposed networks. Results show that Model 2 achieves the maximum cost–benefit ratio (CBR) of the transit network that increases 41% more than CBR of Model 1. Therefore, it is found that the ring radial network is a more optimal network to existing square cities than the grid network according to overall network connectivity.