Transit Users’ Mode Choice Behavior During Light Rail Transit Short-Term Planned Service Disruption

Abstract

Planned service disruptions (PSDs) of light rail transit (LRT) improve service reliability, extend infrastructure’s life, and reduce the frequency and impact of unplanned service disruption caused by system failure. However, the literature on the impact of LRT PSDs on transit customers’ travel mode choice behavior is scarce relative to that on unplanned service disruptions. This study aimed to investigate transit customers’ mode choice behavior in response to short-term LRT PSD in the City of Calgary, AB, Canada. A stated preference survey was designed to gather respondents’ mode choices under a set of hypothetical scenarios. A mixed multinomial logit model was estimated using stated preference data. Findings of this study include: (i) stated LRT ridership dropped by about 35% during the examined short-term LRT service disruption; (ii) transit customers who hold a LRT payment pass (monthly, subsidized seniors, low income, and students) and are frequent weekend LRT users are more likely to stay with the LRT mode in case of short-term PSD; (iii) the value of time for transit users during short-term LRT PSD was found to be 11.76 $/h and 13.0 $/h for travel time (excluding wait time) and wait time during travel, respectively. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on key variables to predict choice probabilities of transit alternatives. Recommendations are made to improve Calgary Transit customers’ experience during short-term LRT PSDs.