Towards an Integrated Model for Locating Transportation Hubs Depending on Urban Indicators

Abstract

Transportation hubs are major urban nodes and they play a unique role in enhancing cities' infrastructures. However, analyzing the process of selecting transportation hubs' Locations and relevant methodologies reveals a significant lack of including urban criteria and indicators in planning and application. The adopted factors and criteria of selection are limited to requirements of mobility and transportation, without having a clear description/measuring indicators of significant urban criteria. This paper aims to integrate urban criteria in selecting the best places for transportation hubs. First, this is accomplished by identifying such comprehensive criteria for location selection. In identifying criteria, the research methodology relied on various layers, include: inferring relationships between transportation development and modern urban trends, analysis of different approaches developed in planning transportation hubs, spotting differences in literature in transportation and urbanism disciplines concerning selecting points of transportation hubs, and finally, through analysis of global trials in the Location selection process and inferring common points. Six groups of comprehensive criteria were developed; under these groups fall some main and sub-criteria. Measurement indicators were found for each criterion and reference points for each indicator on a 1-5 Likert Scale. Then, Results were presented to 36 academic experts in transportation and urban planning, to ensure the quality, of each group of criteria separately. In general, the results were largely positive. 26.3% of the experts agree that criteria are excellent, 52.6% say they are very good, and 21.1% think they are good. Meanwhile, 100% agree that criteria are applicable to any city, and 93% find the measurement indicators sufficient. Finally, using Saati's hierarchical analysis, the relative weights of the proposed criteria were found depending on expert views via a series of paired comparisons. In conclusion, the results introduced by this model can be used for assessing each transportation hub nominated location. Thus, the research gap in the practical methodology adopted was filled. This would help planners spot all factors influencing location determination and assess their total urban impacts. Hence, sound decisions can be made, considering the urban surroundings, current and future development, and achieving maximum desired benefit from transportation hubs at all levels, supporting layout decisions.