Measuring transit-oriented development in Algerian light rail transit lines by using hybrid multi-criteria decision making and open data sources

Abstract

Selecting transit-oriented development (TOD) sites along light rail transit lines (LRTLs) is difficult for city planners and decision makers. Selecting the actors and the charges involved in the prioritising process, particularly, when selecting between regions with criteria, is critical. Therefore, this study provided a measuring tool to identify TOD opportunities between regions, and outlined its defining criteria through an easy, rapid, and cost-effective method. In this measuring tool, a multi-criteria decision making approach with a hybrid weighting technique was used for ranking eight criteria representing five principles of TOD. Subsequently, simple additive weighting and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution methods were used to rank LRTLs. Furthermore, open data sources were used for data acquisition, and QGIS software was used for data analysis. The application of this method on six LRTLs of Algeria revealed that three tramlines are highly appropriate for TOD implementation, and the rest of the three LRTLs require interventions to some TOD requirements. The density criterion was confirmed as the critical parameter of TOD measurements around tramlines in Algeria followed by exchange poles and transit ridership. The station number and ticket price were the least critical criteria. The results revealed that integrated weighting is critical for investigating TOD as a new planning approach. This result promoted the assignment of accurate weights, which can be useful for decision makers when working in unexplored fields or during indecisive situations. Weighting criteria can be used as guidelines for the major requirements for locations suitable for TOD. Eventually, these results are valuable for future investments of TOD projects along LRTLs or other transit modes.