Scenario-Based Multi-criteria decision analysis for rapid transit systems implementation in an urban context

Abstract

The disorderly growth in large urban centers has led to several problems such as pollution, traffic and precarious infrastructure. Adequate public policies to support urban mobility are key to promote sustainable development in cities. Developing adequate solutions for public urban transportation has a strong impact on quality of life, public security and health. In this setting, rapid transit systems emerge as a very effective option. Among the various solutions in this transportation category, three alternatives are the most currently implemented in the world, namely Metro, Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). With recent developments in battery technology, electric buses have become attractive solutions to be applied in mass transportation. In this way, a BRT solution powered by electric vehicles emerges as a promising alternative to enhance the quality of urban mobility and sustainability of large cities. This paper presents a study based on multi-criteria decision analysis using the PROMETHEE (PReference ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation) method to compare this solution with the more traditional rapid transit options. The analysis has been made for four scenarios (baseline, environmental, economic, and economic-environmental), to account for different perspectives. The results indicate that: a) Metro appears as the best solution in a baseline scenario, b) Bus-based transit systems are the best solution in face of economic aspects; c) the electric-based transportation systems considered in this study perform almost the same in an environment based scenario, and d) Metro and e-BRT are the best solutions for an economic-environmental scenario. These findings suggest that bus-based electrical systems are a viable alternative in urban areas in the foreseeable future, in contrast to other rapid transit systems. The framework developed in this work can be instrumental in assisting planning decisions and prioritizing actions to improve public collective mobility in urban areas. • Analysis for Rapid Transit Systems Implementation in an Urban Context. • Scenario-Based Multi-criteria Decision Analysis. • BRT solution powered by electric vehicles. • Multi-criteria decision analysis using the PROMETHEE method. • Four scenarios: baseline, environmental, economic, and economic-environmental under analysis.