RIDIT-ISA Approach to Investigate Commuter Perceptions of an Existing Regional Transit System: A Case Study in the National Capital Region, India

Abstract

The Indian government has tried to promote public transport usage in metropolitan areas. However, strategies for restraining the use of private vehicles or promoting public transport for regional trips must also be explored. To encourage commuters to use existing transit systems for regional trips, it is important to understand their needs and to facilitate such trips. The present study aims to identify the attributes important for commuters and to discover potential areas for improvement in the existing regional transit systems. In the study, 27 attributes related to regional transit systems were ranked according to the stated importance and satisfaction ratings of commuters using a “relative to an identified distribution integral transformation” (RIDIT) system. The mean RIDIT values of these 27 attributes were further used to perform “importance satisfaction analysis” (ISA) using two different approaches to identify precisely the attributes that require improvement under different market conditions. The study is demonstrated with the example of the National Capital Region of India. The outcome of this study not only specifies attributes to concentrate on to enhance the service of the existing regional transit system but also highlights how the selection of an appropriate ISA approach can maximize the efficiency of the regional transit systems and help developing countries with limited resources. The study could assist regional transit authorities in prioritizing the attributes that need focus and maximizing efficiency in the use of available resources.