COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND SELECTION OF TRANSIT MODES

Current planning of transit systems in many cities requires comprehensive comparisons of alternative transit modes. This paper reviews the state of the art. Important conceptual studies and successful, practical mode comparisons for several cities are pointed out. Serious deficiencies of studies using hypothetical situations and comparing modes through costs only are shown on a diagram typically used in these studies. Methodology for mode evaluation cosisting of several steps is presented. Requirements of passengers, operator, and community are defined; then candidate modes are selected through type of right-of-way, technology, and operation. Each mode then is evaluated in terms of monetary costs, other quantitative units, and qualitative values. A summary of the procedure also is presented.