Space–time prism and accessibility in multi-state supernetwork: a lens for locating mobility hubs

Abstract

There has been increasing research on the design of user-centric mobility hubs to enhance urban connectivity. However, limited studies have addressed the importance of space–time accessibility in the selection of mobility hub locations. This study proposes an optimization model that incorporates monetary budget and hub service area constraints to determine the optimal locations for mobility hubs of varying service levels. The model is grounded on space–time prism modeling in multi-state supernetworks, which integrates individual multimodal and multiactivity trip chains. To maximize population-level space–time accessibility, an efficient adaptive iterated tabu search method is developed. A case study in the Rotterdam–The Hague Metropolitan Area (the Netherlands) is conducted to validate the proposed model. The results demonstrate that the model effectively identifies mobility hub locations that altogether enhance population-level space–time accessibility. It is also found that budget and service coverage constraints have significant impacts on hub configurations.