Fixed-route or demand-responsive transit? An evaluation framework for transit service structures using dual-perspective indicators

This study proposes an evaluation framework to assess fixed-route transit (FRT) and demand-responsive transit (DRT), examining performance through real-world operational data. The framework is based on a concise set of key performance indicators (KPIs) synthesized from the literature that represent the perspectives of transit users and providers. The developed framework is applied to a real-world case study, where the same area was served by FRT and DRT. The service evaluation returned a mixed message on the performance of FRT and DRT services. The results show that operational cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per passenger kilometre travelled (PKT) in FRT are 80% lower than DRT indicating that FRT could move more passengers per kilometre at both lower cost and emissions compared to DRT within the case study. Overall, the proposed framework offers a practical solution for planners to evaluate transit options for communities in diverse spatiotemporal environments.