Analysis of Factors Influencing Metro Ridership in Rawalpindi

Abstract

Globally, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) used on urban transportation networks as a substitute to private mode trips specially to address peak-time congestion The Government of Pakistan has initiated various mass-transit projects in cities of major and/or metropolitan characteristics, and Rawalpindi/Islamabad is one of them. In Rawalpindi city, metro line has been functioning since year 2015. The objective is to provide effective and sustainable service for public, especially for the private mode users. Therefore, without being analyzed, one cannot assess about a shift in ridership. In our study, we have analyzed an impact of factors (e.g., fare, travel time) that influence on ridership. Additionally, we have considered an effect of pandemic (COVID-19) situation on the ridership based on the busiest stations of Rawalpindi (i.e., Committee Chowk, Faizabad, and Saddar). We had developed scenarios of “Do- Minimum” (two-year plan) increasing bus fare in peak hours, decreasing travel time between the busy stations). Whereas the “Do-Something” scenarios mostly include those measures that have a long-impact and cross-elastic in relationship to an effect on transit ridership (such as fuel price, park and ride, road congestion etc.). Our study results have showed that an additional dedicated bus service for peak hours for covering busy stations only would attract more riders than any other cases of change in fare. Thus, there is a need to carryout detailed further study that would assist policy makers in public sector in predicting the out-falls from proposed policies and newly introduced interventions, whether be acceptable to users or public. In addition, it would intimate about initiatives on mega-transit schemes be able to serve value to money to the treasury.