Optimal Urban Rail Transit Corridor Identification within Integrated Framework Using Geographical Information System

This paper discusses a model for optimally aligning an urban rail transit system within an integrated framework, on a demand-oriented corridor on a city transport network, using geographical information system (GIS) tools. The model is part of a methodology to develop a demand-oriented effective and efficient integrated urban mass transit system for a city which has a potential demand for a new rail-based mass transit system besides the street transit system and existing rail-based system (if any). Besides the proposed model the methodology consists of identifying the feeder routes and integrated schedules, but they are not within the scope of this paper. The objective of the model is to identify the new rail corridor, which is optimum from both the users’ and operators’ point of view. It consists of two stages: public transport travel demand forecasting, and rail transit corridor identification using a GIS-based heuristic algorithm. Thane City, which is a part of Mumbai Metropolitan Region India, was taken as the case study. The corridors were identified based on the demand obtained using user equilibrium approach, which consists of two routes. The maximum peak hour ridership on these routes was found to be ideal for recommending a light rail transit system for the identified corridors. The successful application of the model shows the capability of proposed model for a typical Indian city, which has the potential demand for a new rail system.