Stated Preference surveys and the valuation of urban transport systems

Abstract

This paper on the use of Stated Preference (SP) surveys is from the proceedings of 14th International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, which was held in Malta in 2008. This type of survey is widely used in the transport sector for travel behavior and demand modeling. The authors of this paper report on results from SP surveys that were carried out in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1999, for various transportation projects, including the metro system, the submerged tunnel, the sea transport system, a modern technology parking station, and a bus passenger information system. The authors focus on the willingness-to-pay (WTP) values that can be elucidated with the SP survey technique. The authors conclude that SP surveys can provides valuable information as part of the planning process for an efficient transport system. The WTP data is particularly useful in evaluating whether proposed transportation projects will be economically viable.