The Incorporation of Passenger Connectivity and Intermodal Considerations in Intercity Transport Planning

Abstract

Congested road and air networks, coupled with the idea that transport systems should be balanced, have spawned the field of intercity intermodal passenger transport which is based on travel across connected networks that is as seamless as possible. There is a very large number of attributes that affect the objective and subjective quality of travel. Intercity public transport planning therefore requires an excellent understanding of connections between different services and how the quality of these connections affects passengers, operators and the society at large. This article reviews the vast literature over the last 20 years from Europe, North America and Asia that is related to intercity travel, the connectivity of transport and cooperation between different modes of transport and presents a simple yet powerful way to perceive connected transport systems. The article then reviews planning practice at a variety of states worldwide, and suggests a set of focus areas of research or gaps that once filled, the authors expect, will allow further development of connected intercity passenger travel.

Keywords:

• air rail
• high-speed rail
• door-to-door transport
• transport transfers
• seamless transport
• transportation planning
• transport integration
• connectivity
• intermodality

Acknowledgements

We, the authors would like to thank the journal reviewers who gave insightful comments to strengthen the manuscript. Any errors however are our own.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We focus on travel above 100 km (62 miles).

2. Department of Transportation.

3. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (US).

4. The International Union of Railways (UIC) does, however, organize a conference (‘Nextstation’) on terminals, and encourages research on intermodality — www.uic.org/.

5. National Science Foundation.

6. By ‘intermodal network’ here we mean one that explicitly considers combined-mode trips.

7. Intermodal Surface Transport Efficiency Act (1991).

8. Transport Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century (1998).

9. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (2005).

10. Moving Ahead for Progress in the Twenty-First Century (2012).

11. General Transit Feed Specification.

12. For example, www.rome2rio.com (accessed 28 May 2015).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Portuguese National Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) under Doctoral Grant BD 51638.