Using Perspectives of Private Vehicle Users to Identify Priority Areas for Improving Accessibility to Metro Stations

Abstract

The present research investigates priority areas of interventions for improving accessibility to Metro stations in Delhi based on private vehicle users' perceptions. The focus is on identifying the avenues of infrastructure improvement in parking facilities near Metro stations. A tablet-based face-to-face questionnaire survey was adopted to collect 1,050 responses regarding perceived importance and satisfaction ratings of 17 service quality attributes under study on a 6-point Likert scale. The data were checked, cleaned, and analyzed using revised importance–performance analysis. A fuzzy c-means clustering technique was used to develop the factor structure and management scheme clusters. Finally, priority intervention areas were identified, and resources allocated by relating factor structures and management schemes. The findings indicated that the presence of designated parking facilities, provision of variable message signs (VMSs), parking guidance information, parking charges, and in-vehicle travel time were top priority attributes and warranted immediate improvement. Security, luggage space, extreme weather conditions, and universal design considerations were under low priority. Security at the Metro parking lots had optimum service levels and was expected to be maintained. Travel route information, safety, riding comfort, convenience, egress time, operational and maintenance cost, and illumination were attributes under “possible overkill,” indicating the need to transfer resources to improve other service attributes. The findings of the current work shall be useful to transport planners, traffic engineers, and officials in enhancing accessibility of private vehicle users to Metro stations by providing better Park-and-Ride facilities.