University of Twente Student Theses

The potential of Alternative Transport Services : an exploration of the potential and the factors influencing the potential of Alternative Transport Services in the province of Overijssel

Morsche, W.J. te (2017) The potential of Alternative Transport Services : an exploration of the potential and the factors influencing the potential of Alternative Transport Services in the province of Overijssel.

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Abstract:	The need for an appropriate public transport network is undisputable, but because of the continuous (financial) pressure on public transport, providing efficient and high-quality public transport alternatives at a fair price is often a major challenge for the responsible tiers of government and the transport companies. In general, regular public transport services are not suitable to deal with low and widely dispersed travel demand and are not always the most suitable solution. To, nevertheless, meet the challenge of providing appropriate public transport, new forms of public transport need to be explored. Such unconventional public transport services are known as Alternative Transport Services. In its vision of public transport, the province of Overijssel acknowledges that regular public transport is not always the best option and endorses that new public transport forms should be explored. To achieve this, the province will offer help and financial contribution to municipalities and other initiators depending on the social added value of an initiative. However, it is often hard to know beforehand what is the social added value of a transport service, because the preferences of end-users vary from user to user. In addition, there are many different Alternative Transport Services types possible. Thus, the attractiveness and the potential of a transport service is difficult to predict and it is hard to know beforehand which kind of services should be considered for a region. The potential of transport service depends on the perceived attractiveness of the service for the potential end-users. The attractiveness of a service, in turn, depends on the operational design (level-of-service attributes) of the service, but also on variables or characteristics related to the traveller and/or its trip. This research explores the concept of Alternative Transport Services and the variables influencing the attractiveness and potential of a service. Service types and their aspects are explored by an extensive literature review and the development of a comprehensive categorisation of service types, varying from more conventional services to recently upcoming services. In addition, based on the outcomes of a discrete choice experiment and choice model estimation process, it is determined which and how variables influence the attractiveness of an Alternative Transport Service type. Variables that are considered are level-of-service attributes, characteristics related to the traveller and/or its trip and the opinion of travellers on public transport in general and the attitude of travellers towards different types. Based on the results of this research, recommendations are made to help the successful development of future Alternative Transport Service schemes.
Item Type:	Essay (Master)
Faculty:	ET: Engineering Technology
Subject:	56 civil engineering
Programme:	Civil Engineering and Management MSc (60026)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72468
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