Long-term planning for urban rail transit networks

This study is based on idealizing the city transit network in a radio-centric form. A model for long term planning and modeling of urban rail transit network is developed using the idealized ring-radial network. This model shows the potential net benefit of introducing a network extension in a transit network by assessing anticipated reductions in total generalized passenger cost. It can be used for cost benefit analysis to compare total passenger cost savings versus the cost of network extension. The model can be used to compare performance of different rail transit networks. Unlike simulations and agent-based models, this model is shown to be easily transferable to most radiocentric transit networks. Therefore, with a daily origin-destination trip matrix and transit network supply characteristics and parameters as input, the model can be implemented for other cities. The paper presents application of the model for case studies of Calgary, Canada and Shanghai, China. The application of the model can also be very useful for cities in Iran to examine rail transit network alternatives and priorities urban rail transit line construction and extensions in the cities in Iran.

Long-term planning for urban rail transit networks Keywords:

Transit Network Planning , Ring-Radial Network , Metro Networks