Urban Public Transport Research Articles

Assessment of the Impact of Intercity Bus Station Relocation on Passenger Flows in Urban Public Transport

Problem. The analysis of existing studies on transport hub operation in a city as well as on the methods for modelling the transport demand they generate showed that there are no specific recommendations for assessing the impact of the intercity bus station location on the trip patterns in urban transport system. This caused the need to search for a tool suitable to assess the influence of intercity bus station relocation on passenger service and passenger flows in the urban transport system. This paper shows the results of addressing this issue respective to urban public transport operation. Goal. The goal of the paper is to model the passenger flows to and from intercity bus stations considered transport anchors in urban public transport system as well as estimate the impact of station relocation on passenger flows and quality of service. Methodology. To achieve the stated goal, a survey of intercity passengers at the bus stations in the city of Rivne was made. This allowed for collecting the distances of the trips to and from existing bus stations and fitting the theoretical distribution to describe them. This distribution was used as the deterrence function during trip matrix calculation, which was required for the development of the public transport model. The model made it possible to quantify the potential impact of the Bus Station “Rivne” relocation on the urban transport system. Results. The considered bus station relocation can cause a decrease in the quality of service for passengers travelling to and from the station by public transport due to a probable significant increase in the average travel time and distance, the number of transfers, the passenger hours spent on travelling, and the passenger-kilometres covered to ensure the trips under study. Originality For the first time, the quantitative estimation of the impact of bus station relocation based on the regularities in the lengths of the trips to and from the stations was obtained. Practical value. The obtained trip length distribution can be used to calculate the origin-destination matrix, develop the public transport model, and quantify the probable consequences of the transport hub relocation.

The operation mechanism of integrating urban and rural passenger transportation and logistics under the strategy of rural revitalization–Case study of Lianhua County, China

To alleviate the pressure of government financial subsidies for urban and rural public transport, this paper analyzes the intrinsic relationship between China's rural revitalization strategy and the integrated development of urban and rural public transport, and proposes an integrated development model of public transport and logistics based on urban and rural public transport. Taking Lianhua County, China, as an example, this paper investigates the operational mechanism and pilot effects of the bus-logistics integration model, and proposes strategies to promote the development of bus-logistics integration. The results of the case study show that the urban–rural bus integration model based on the integration of public transportation and logistics can reduce the deficit of urban–rural bus enterprises by 35.8% compared with the traditional urban–rural bus integration model, which can effectively alleviate the pressure of government financial subsidies. The research results have practical significance for promoting rural revitalization in Lianhua County and alleviating government financial pressure, and also have a certain reference role for the sustainable development of urban and rural public transportation in other small and medium-sized cities.

Integrating parcel delivery schedules with public transport networks in urban co-modality systems

Co-modality transportation advocates using urban public transport to support urban freight operations. This study considers the implementation of co-modality in a fixed-route transit network comprising multiple lines following predetermined routes and schedules. We first develop a schedule-based parcel assignment model to formulate the synchronized co-modality transportation problem (SCTP). The effectiveness of the proposed arc-based meta-heuristic algorithm is substantiated through a comprehensive computational analysis, comparing its performance with that of an exact approach and genetic algorithm. Our findings reveal a nuanced trade-off between transportation efficiency and co-modal stop utilization, identifying a threshold beyond which additional stops do not improve efficiency but increase costs. We also discover a 'buckets effect' in co-modal capacities, suggesting that balanced vehicle and stop capacities are crucial for optimizing system performance. A case study with real urban transit data validates our model's potential for significant efficiency gains in co-modality transportation systems, offering actionable insights for urban logistics.

The Influence of Regional Socioeconomic Features On the Distribution of Financial Resources For Higher Education

The article is devoted to solving the problem of “budgetary financial adequacy of higher education” in China through a fairer, uniform, and sufficient distribution of financial costs for higher education among the provinces of this country, considering significant differences in the natural, economic, and social conditions of development in various regions. Currently, in China, the calculation of standard financial costs for the education sector is carried out according to the legal requirements of the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, taking into account the number of people studying at the corresponding level of education, the cost norm for this level of education, and the deviation coefficient. Instead, this article proposes a more comprehensive and rational approach that considers regional differences in the cost of living and the financial burden on higher education institutions, increasing the government’s responsibility for supporting a balanced distribution of financial resources for higher education. To take into account regional differences, it is proposed to use a system of indices for the difference in the costs of regional development, which includes three main categories of indicators: natural factors (the complexity of the terrain and the share of the area planted with forests), economic factors (the index of prices for raw materials, GDP per capita, freight traffic, and the total duration of operation of urban public transport), and social factors (population density in municipal areas, number of graduates of general education colleges and universities). To determine the fair size of budgetary expenditures on higher education, it is proposed to make adjustments to the index of differentiation of regional development expenditures, which combines these indicators using the geometric regression average benchmark method (without including a constant term). A higher value of this index means that the region needs more resources to achieve the same level of development as another region, so the standard budget expenditures for higher education should be higher for it. For all provinces in China, the coefficient of financial adequacy of higher education was calculated as the ratio between the standard financial costs of higher education (calculated according to the proposals outlined in this article) and the actual costs incurred. It is proposed that this coefficient be used as a basis for optimizing their distribution. The article emphasises the need to form a strategy for financing higher education in China, which should be based on a dynamic permanent adjustment of the amount of allocated financial resources depending on changes in the regional social and economic conditions of development of each province, an effective institutional mechanism that would allow adapting this strategy to endogenous and endogenous changes in China’s economy, optimisation of horizontal transfer payments and partnership assistance programs, and incentive mechanisms for local governments to invest in higher education.

Целесообразность применения цифровых трамваев на шинах в городах России

Objective: show the prospects of using an innovative type of public urban transport - a digital tram on tires with optical guidance along a strip marked on the road or using magnetic markers along the route, as attractive to passengers, cheaper in the arrangement of lines, as well as requiring less time to build than rail tram for urban transportation, allowing to relieve city roads from traffic jams and improve their ecology. Methods: an analysis and generalization of the operating experience of new digital trams built by the Chinese company CRRC, operated in the cities of China: Zhuzhou, Yibin, Yongxiu, Yancheng and Shanghai, as well as the most advanced designs of the operating rolling stock. Results: the operation of the tire tram revealed a number of problems: after a year of operation, severe rutting appeared on a dedicated lane of the road, speeds and capacity were lower than declared. The construction of new tire tram lines required costs for strengthening the roadway, which was not originally intended by the manufacturer. The possibility of their use in winter climate conditions on roads covered with ice and snow has not been proven. Further testing is required to identify and eliminate emerging deficiencies. Practical significance: despite a number of identified shortcomings, it is advisable to use a digital tire tram for cities with a warm climate, with complex terrain and narrow streets as a medium-capacity vehicle that can improve the mobility and quality of life of citizens, as well as reduce the negative impact on the environment. It is advisable to lay it in new residential areas and industrial zones under construction, as well as to use it for mass transportation of passengers in the event of any major one-time events: major exhibitions, forums, Olympic Games, world football championships, etc.

Research of urban passenger transport in countries with a high Human Development Index

The aim of this research is to investigate urban passenger transport in countries with a high human development index and establish a logical relationship between this index and the features of urban transport in developed countries worldwide. The study’s methodology is based on economic and statistical approaches to the economy’s main indicators. Mathematical modelling is used to obtain results on the influence of passenger traffic indicators on GDP. The study also assesses the role of regulators in this process. The study’s results are interpreted based on the experience of the largest countries with the highest degree of interaction between these indicators. Conclusions are drawn regarding the need to develop preventive measures, taking into account the best international practices. The results and conclusions of this research are significant for public transport workers. They provide a practical opportunity to improve various aspects of their activities and the quality of service in the field of public urban transport.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK IN THE FIELD OF ASSESSMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF URBAN PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION

The development of the conceptual apparatus in the field of assessing the organization of urban passenger transportation allows us to form objective evaluation mechanisms for further improvement of the work of urban public passenger transport. Today in the presence of a number of problems in the field of transport services for the population of large and largest cities the task of forming a sound assessment system for the organization of urban passenger transportation becomes the most urgent. However for such an assessment different authors use different categories: "effectiveness", "efficiency", and "quality". There are no works that would allow us to determine the most appropriate category in relation to the functioning of urban public passenger transport. The article conducts a study of these categories, presents their comparative analysis and considers the possibilities of their use to evaluate the operation of the system in question. Purpose. The main objective of the article is to select a category for evaluating the organization of urban passenger transportation. Methodology. The method of analysis and the method of systematization of data were used in carrying out the research. Results. The essence of each of such categories as "effectiveness", "efficiency" and "quality" in relation to the assessment of the organization of urban passenger transportation is determined. The interrelationships between the categories and their significant differences are determined. The choice of the category of assessment of the organization of urban passenger transportation is justified. The scope of the results. The results obtained can be guided by scientists and specialists involved in the assessment of the organization of urban passenger transportation. Conclusions. It is recommended when choosing a category for evaluating the organization of urban passenger transportation to reflect its essence, which is defined in this article.

Factors affecting the formation of the architectural and planning structure of service facilities located at public transport interchange

In the article, the author conducted an analysis of scientific researches on the organization of the structure of service facilities within transport interchanges. It was found that there are a number of works devoted specifically to transport and interchange nodes without a service structure. Such researches has been done for airports, railway stations and bus stations. There are several works devoted to the organization of service facilities within the transport hubs of urban public transport and airports in the structure of aerotropolises. There are several researches devoted to general proposals for the organization of ancillary service facilities in locations of public activity. No researches have been found regarding the determination of factors influencing the organization of service facilities within transport interchanges. Therefore, the author formulated three main groups of factors based on the identified trends and the analyzed project experience. These are socio-technological, natural climatic and technogenic factors. As a conclusion, it can be noted that the first group of factors has an influence on the formation of the list of related services through feedback from the environment and also determines the request for their level of comfort, which, among other things, is put forward to the list of services, the general appearance of buildings and the use of technological equipment. The second group determines the volume-spatial and structural solutions of transport interchanges and service facilities located within them. The third group defines urban planning placement, the use of the latest technologies, including for energy saving, noise and vibration protection, and environmental protection.

Prediction of Radio Signal Failures of Communication Based Train Operating Systems by Machine Learning Methods

The use of rail systems in urban public transportation has become a necessity for reasons such as time saving, travel comfort and operating costs, especially in cities with high population and road traffic. Communication based train operating systems (CBTC) are used for the safe use of urban rail systems and the maximum capacity of the railway line. In this study, in line with the data collected from the trains on a railway line operated with CBTC, the status of the radio signals that enable the wireless communication of the trains with the trackside signaling equipment was evaluated by machine learning methods, and the situations that may have negative effects on the train operations of the problems at the signal level were evaluate. The problems on the antennas which receives signals from trackside above trains, the poor connection related with fiber optical and LAN cables, the trackside transmitter antenna orientation problems causes decrease on signal levels. It is aimed that to take actions about the problematic signal levels without any negative impact on the passenger comfort and the operation yet. The radio signal losses cause unexpected trains stops and delays. A decision support model has been developed that will offer early solution suggestions to system maintainers in order to intervene first. In conclusion, since it is the first study related with failure prediction by using radio signal levels data on railway signaling system, this study presents an important innovation in terms of literature.

Research Progress and Prospects of Transit Priority Signal Intersection Control Considering Carbon Emissions in a Connected Vehicle Environment

Transit priority control is not only an important means for improving the operating speed and reliability of public transport systems, but it is also a key measure for promoting green and sustainable urban transportation development. A review of signal intersection transit priority control strategy in a connected vehicle environment is conducive to discovering important research results on transit priority control at home and abroad and will promote further developments in urban public transport. This study analyzed and reviewed signal intersection transit priority control at four levels: traffic control sub-area divisions, transit signal priority (TSP) strategy, speed guidance strategy, and the impacts of intersection signal control on carbon emissions. In summary, the findings were the following: (1) In traffic control sub-area divisions, the existing methods were mainly based on the similarity of traffic characteristics and used clustering or search methods to divide the intersections with high similarity into the same control sub-areas. (2) The existing studies on the TSP control strategy have mainly focused on transit priority control based on fixed phase sequences or phase combinations under the condition of exclusive bus lanes. (3) Studies on speed guidance strategy were mainly based on using constant bus speeds to predict bus arrival times at intersection stop lines, and it was common to guide only based on bus speed. (4) The carbon emissions model for vehicles within the intersection mainly considered two types of vehicles, namely, fuel vehicles and pure electric vehicles. Finally, by analyzing deficiencies in the existing studies, future development directions for transit priority control are proposed.

A data-driven framework for natural feature profile of public transport ridership: Insights from Suzhou and Lianyungang, China

Urban public transport systems, characterised by their complexity, generate vast data sets that pose challenges to traditional analytical methods. To address this issue, our research introduces an innovative natural feature profile framework, leveraging a comprehensive, data-driven approach that incorporates big data, data mining, machine learning, and correlation analysis. This approach provides detailed insights essential for transport planning and policy development. The framework's core is its three-layered structure: the data layer, the feature layer, and the application layer, complemented by a unique four-level feature tagging system. This system investigates correlations, significance, and sensitivities amongst feature tags. It facilitates the extraction of natural feature profiles from voluminous data sets, rendering the framework highly applicable in practical scenarios. The implementation of this framework in Suzhou and Lianyungang demonstrated its adaptability and effectiveness. The findings underscored distinct city-specific transport patterns, highlighting the necessity for customised transport strategies. Furthermore, our framework excels at capturing spatial–temporal dynamics, offering essential insights grounded in evidence. Overall, this paper introduces a methodical, adaptable, and data-oriented framework, signalling a promising future for the development of intelligent and sustainable urban public transport systems.

Why and how often do authorities remunicipalise urban public transport? The case of France

ABSTRACT For decades, public transport services in most French towns and cities have been provided on a delegated management basis, by subcontracting to private parties, using calls for tender as a selection mechanism. Recently, however, a number of cities, some of them large, have opted for direct management, moving away from the private, competitive model in favour of public management. Our study answers two questions: What is the scale of this shift? And how can it be interpreted: what are the triggers and motivations behind it? The literature on these questions is sparse, partial and dated. Our database shows that remunicipalisation is no longer an anecdotal phenomenon in France. Our interviews reveal that the motivations are always composite and that political factors are predominant.

Analysis of Multi-Modal Public Transit Competing Relationships and Evolutionary Mechanisms in Cities in Cold Regions

In order to reveal the characteristics of the competition and cooperation of multi-modal public transportation in the cities of cold areas and to study the competitive relationship of multi-modal public transportation in cold areas, the urban public transportation system in cold areas is divided into three sub-systems, namely, conventional buses, urban mass transit, and cabs, to analyze the competitive relationship and evolution mechanism of multi-modal public transportation in cities of cold areas. We construct a multi-modal public transit Lotka–Volterra competitiveness model, considering that conventional buses and urban mass transit are mainly dominant in urban public transit systems in cold regions, and introduce the competitive influence effect coefficients and cooperative influence effect coefficients to analyze the mechanism of the evolution of the competitiveness between conventional buses and urban mass transit. The data on traffic supply and demand and travel of the Harbin bus system, a typical city in China, are collected, and the simulation analysis of multi-modal competing relationship and evolution mechanism of conventional bus and urban mass transit competition is carried out, respectively, with Harbin as the research object. The results show that the constructed model can better describe the multi-modal bus competition relationship and evolution mechanism.

Marketing Research at Public Transport Enterprises

This article discusses the strategic goal of the functioning and development of the transport system of Uzbekistan, studied the transport systems of cities with developed public transport in 2022, and, based on marketing research, substantiated recommendations for the development of urban public transport, increasing the number of its users and providing quality services.

Study on the Influence of Deep Soil Liquefaction on the Seismic Response of Subway Stations

Subway systems are a crucial component of urban public transportation, especially in terms of safety during seismic events. Soil liquefaction triggered by earthquakes is one of the key factors that can lead to underground structural damage. This study investigates the impact of deep soil liquefaction on the response of subway station structures during seismic activity, aiming to provide evidence and suggestions for earthquake-resistant measures in underground constructions. The advanced finite element software PLAXIS was utilized for dynamic numerical simulations. Non-linear dynamic analysis methods were employed to construct models of subway stations and the surrounding soil layers, including soil–structure interactions. The UBC3D-PLM liquefaction constitutive model was applied to describe the liquefaction behavior of soil layers, while the HS constitutive model was used to depict the dynamic characteristics of non-liquefied soil layers. The study examined the influence of deep soil liquefaction on the dynamic response of subway station structures under different seismic waves. The findings indicate that deep soil liquefaction significantly increases the vertical displacement and acceleration responses of subway stations compared to non-liquefied conditions. The liquefaction behavior of deep soil layers leads to increased horizontal effective stress on both sides of the structure, thereby increasing the horizontal deformation of the structure and posing a potential threat to the safety and functionality of subway stations. This research employed detailed numerical simulation methods, incorporating the non-linear characteristics of deep soil layer liquefaction, providing an analytical framework based on regulatory standards for evaluating the impact of deep soil liquefaction on the seismic responses of subway stations. Compared to traditional studies, this paper significantly enhances simulation precision and practical applicability. Results from this research indicate that deep soil layer liquefaction poses a non-negligible risk to the structural safety of subway stations during earthquakes. Therefore, the issue of deep soil liquefaction should receive increased attention in engineering design and construction, with effective prevention and mitigation measures being implemented.

Key sustainable mobility indicators for university campuses

The increasing focus on promoting sustainable transportation in higher education institutions has resulted in studies that examine different aspects of the planning process. However, little research has focused on an essential element of the process: indicators of sustainable mobility in the context of university campuses. This gap is particularly noticeable in countries like Brazil, where this investigation was carried out. This study aimed to identify a set of key indicators to evaluate sustainable mobility on university campuses by taking into account their relevance and suitability to different contexts. The study combined knowledge gained from real-life planning initiatives with experts' judgment to identify the key indicators. After selecting potentially transferable indicators, we formed an expert panel with professionals from various university campuses to determine the degree of relevance and suitability of these indicators in different contexts. The results were analyzed using the Friedman non-parametric test, which indicated experts' agreement, in terms of relevance and suitability, in the following 13 indicators: Public transport infrastructure, Quality of pedestrian paths (inside and to access the campus), Parking spaces for users with mobility constraints, Urban public transport, Security within and around the campus, Universal access to buildings, Parking infrastructure, Bike racks and bike shelters, Infrastructure to access the campus, Adequacy of transport modes, Quality of campus roads, Cycling infrastructure, and Road safety campaigns. The final list may be particularly convenient for preliminary assessments or for universities that do not have resources available for wide-ranging evaluations of sustainable mobility.

Spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emission in Chengdu-Chongqing area: an urban transportation perspective.

The Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle is a vital growth pole and a new power source for Chinese high-quality development. Studying the spatial-temporal characteristics of carbon emissions and the role of factors affecting them under the transportation perspective is of great significance for this region to realize the carbon peak and carbon neutrality and to formulate carbon emission reduction policies. We use the exploring spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial regression model combined with the STIRPAT model, and research finding: (1) The total carbon emissions in the research area gradually increased from 2014 to 2020, but the growth rate showed a significant decline in 2019. (2) There is significant spatial heterogeneity of carbon emissions in the study area; the hotspot areas of total carbon emissions are in Chongqing and Chengdu, forming a high-low aggregation of carbon emissions. Per capita carbon emissions show a high trend in the southwest and a low in the northeast. (3) From the factors of transportation perspective, highway density and private vehicles have a positive impact on carbon emissions, and urban road areas and public transportation have a very significant inhibition of carbon emissions and a spatial spillover effect. (4) Other factors, such as population size, national economic development, urbanization level, and industrial structure, all have a positive effect on carbon emissions, and disposable income has a negative effect on carbon emissions.

Can the development of electric buses bring economic and environmental benefits

The transition of urban buses to e-buses can be a significant contribution to the ecological construction of cities. Understanding the ecological and economic consequences of the transition is challenging. In this paper, Copenhagen is chosen as a case study, and specific parameters for the city are established through the model to assess the impact of the electric bus transformation program. Traditional diesel buses (Yutong C12) and electric buses (BYD-K19) are examined using the Eco-efficiency Model. Additionally, harmful gas emissions, such as sulfide, are quantitatively analyzed, and the daily production of harmful gases by traditional diesel buses and electric buses is calculated. In the second part, Economic model is grounded in the actual circumstances of the bus fleet, considering various factors such as initial costs, maintenance costs, energy costs, and external investments. This comprehensive evaluation assesses the feasibility of the transformation plan and is applied in a selected city. By simulating and comparing the cost consumption of traditional fuel buses and electric buses over the past 10 years, it was found that electric buses have high long-term economic benefits, providing a solid foundation for informed decision-making by urban traffic management departments. In the third part, through the sensitivity analysis of the influence of external investment, we find that when external investment is approximately $15,000 per E-bus, the economic benefits of electric buses and fuel buses are comparable over time. Finally, the calculation results of the model are clearly shown in the form of charts, including the change trend of maintenance cost and external investment in 10 years. These results provide comprehensive data support for urban transportation authorities to help them better develop and adjust electric bus transformation plans to promote urban public transportation towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly direction.

Machine learning analysis of socioeconomic drivers in urban ozone pollution in Chinese cities.

The escalation of ground-level ozone (O3) pollution presents a significant challenge to the sustainable growth of Chinese cities. This study utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms to investigate the intricate interplay between urban socioeconomic growth and O3 levels. Surpassing traditional environmental chemistry, it assesses the effectiveness of these algorithms in interpreting socioeconomic and environmental data, while elucidating urban development's environmental impacts from a novel socioeconomic perspective. Key findings indicate that factors such as urban infrastructure, industrial activities, and demographic dynamics significantly influence O3 pollution. The study highlights the particular sensitivity of urban public transportation and population density, each exerting a unique and substantial effect on O3 levels. Additionally, the research identifies nuanced interactions among these factors, indicating a complex web of influences on urban O3 pollution. These interactions suggest that the impact of individual socioeconomic elements on O3 pollution is interdependent, being either amplified or mitigated by other factors. The study emphasizes the crucial need to integrate socioeconomic variables into urban O3 pollution strategies, advocating for policies tailored to each city's distinct characteristics, informed by the detailed analysis provided by machine learning. This approach is essential for developing effective and nuanced urban pollution management strategies.

Investigating the Impact of Streetscape and Land Surface Temperature on Cycling Behavior

Cycling is a flexible way of traveling that can promote the development of urban public transportation. Previous studies on the influence of cycling have focused more on the cyclists themselves, ignoring the influences of the features of natural environments, such as streetscapes and land surface temperatures (LSTs), on cycling behavior. Therefore, in this study, street view image data and Landsat 8 imagery were utilized to extract streetscape and LST features; in particular, a framework was established for a single-indicator analysis and a multiple-indicator interaction analysis based on the random forest model with GeoDetector. The model was used to explore the effects of streetscapes and surface temperatures on cycling behavior. The results of this study for the main urban area of Beijing show that (1) high-density buildings and high population activity exacerbated the heat island effect at the city center and certain areas in the east, with the highest LST reaching 46.93 °C. In contrast, the greenery and water bodies in the northwestern and northeastern areas reduced the LST, resulting in a minimum temperature of 11.61 °C. (2) The optimal analysis scale was a 100 m buffer pair, and the regression fitting accuracy reached 0.83, confirming the notable influences of streetscape and LST characteristics on cycling behavior. (3) The random forest (RF) model results show that the importance of LST features and vegetation and sky conditions exceeded 0.07, and a reasonable sky openness and open building ventilation became the first choices for promoting cycling behavior. (4) According to the GeoDetector model, the LST features alone exhibited an importance of more than 0.375 for cycling behavior, while interactions with streetscapes greatly reduced the negative effect of LST on cycling behavior. The interaction between walls and plants reached 0.392, while the interaction between multiple environmental factors and greenery and favorable ventilation counteracted the negative impact of high-temperature heat waves on the residents’ choice of bicycles.