A CASE STUDY ON FEEDER MODE CHOICE PREFERENCE OF METRO RAIL TRAVELERS

Abstract

FPTS, or feeder public transit service, is crucial to fostering economic growth and providing commuters with access to urban areas. The perception of a service or mode by passengers has an impact on all public transport systems. The objective of this study is to identify passengers, preferred feeder transport modes and influencing factors along the metro rail route from Uttara North to Agargaon. The study explores the preferences of metro rail travelers towards feeder mode selection, focusing on factors such as cost, convenience and accessibility. The perceptions of passengers using the Uttara North to Agargaon Metro Rail corridor about four feeder modes - Bus, CNG, Microbus, and Auto-Rickshaw are investigated. Factors such as feeder mode attributes (comfort, safety, availability), trip characteristics (journey time, cost, frequency) and demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the travelers (Age, Gender, Income, Occupation) are considered. A total of 500 respondents are surveyed, of which 14% are government employees, 39% are private sector employees, 27% are self-employed, 14% are students and 1% are retired persons. A multinomial logistic model (MLM) is applied to analyze the relationship between feeder mode characteristics and overall mode choice behavior. The model reveals that male respondents are 2.03 times more likely to choose bus as a feeder mode than female respondents. Other important factors influencing feeder mode choice include cost sensitivity, perceived reliability, convenience and travel purpose.