Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice最新文献

{"title":"Exploring preferences for demand-responsive transport in rural Japan: An integrated probabilistic choice set and latent variable approach","authors":"Yuanfang Zhu ,&nbsp;Meilan Jiang ,&nbsp;Takayuki Morikawa ,&nbsp;Toshiyuki Yamamoto ,&nbsp;Zhijian Zhao ,&nbsp;Hitomi Sato ,&nbsp;Yusaku Ogai ,&nbsp;Misaki Nakashita ,&nbsp;Shizuko Matsuzoe ,&nbsp;Miwa Ueki","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although demand-responsive transport (DRT) has been proposed as an innovative mobility solution to enhance accessibility in rural areas, its adoption and utilization remain low. To facilitate broader acceptance, it is essential to identify the factors influencing individuals’ willingness to use such services. This study examined preferences for DRT based on stated preference data collected from 610 respondents in a rural region of Japan. The analysis showed low willingness to use the service, with 75.4% of respondents indicating that they would not utilize it for any trip purpose, regardless of service attributes. To explicitly account for this non-compensatory behavior, an integrated probabilistic choice set and latent variable (IPCSLV) model was developed. Compared with traditional choice models, the IPCSLV model demonstrated a superior fit and yielded more interpretable results. The findings indicated that older adults aged ≥ 75 years, non-drivers, and individuals who were aware of the nearest bus stop were more likely to consider DRT as a transport alternative. Positive perceptions of DRT were also linked to higher levels of acceptance, with participation in the demonstration trial contributing to the development of these favorable views. Among those who considered DRT, service was most preferred for trips to the railway station, and cost emerged as the most influential service-related factor affecting usage. These insights support the design of tailored services that target the specific user groups identified in the analysis. While individuals with high car dependency were more likely to exclude DRT, offering free trial opportunities may encourage them to consider adopting DRT.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 104919"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146160933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Airport accessibility assessment and shuttle bus scheduling across socioeconomic groups","authors":"Tinghe Zhang ,&nbsp;Ang Li ,&nbsp;Lingxiao Wu ,&nbsp;Changmin Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Airport accessibility is a critical factor influencing air travel behavior, particularly for low-income travelers who face both economic and transit-related constraints. This study proposes the Fairness Airport Accessibility Metric (FAAM), a novel measure that captures disparities in accessibility across income groups by incorporating variations in travel options and behavioral responses. Building on this metric, we develop a dual-perspective, two-stage Airport Bus Scheduling and Allocation Model that reflects the differing priorities of public stakeholders. The government-led model first maximizes accessibility to ensure fair transit access across income groups, then minimizes operational costs under fairness constraints. The operator-led model, in contrast, begins by minimizing costs while maintaining baseline accessibility, and subsequently improves accessibility within those budgetary limits, capturing the trade-off between fairness and efficiency from both policy and operational standpoints. To validate the framework, we conduct a case study in Hong Kong, using actual flight schedules from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) combined with a synthetically constructed public transit network. The case study confirms significant spatial and income-based disparities in current airport accessibility and demonstrates the necessity of differentiated planning for diverse socioeconomic groups. Numerical experiments reveal that over-prioritizing low-income users can lead to underutilized system capacity, while favoring high-income users may improve overall efficiency but widen accessibility gaps. A balanced, fairness-driven weighting scheme provides inclusive service delivery without compromising operational feasibility. The findings highlight the importance of integrating income-responsive transit planning, fairness-aware scheduling algorithms, and targeted fare policies. Together, these strategies provide a scalable and adaptable framework for designing airport ground access systems that are both socially inclusive and operationally sustainable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 104918"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146160931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of shared micro-mobility on local economy: Market sales and regional disparities","authors":"Minju Kim,&nbsp;Hangjung Zo","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We examine the impact of shared e-scooters on regional accessibility and local economic development, focusing on different types of commercial districts—alleyway markets, traditional markets, and developed districts—in Seoul, Korea. Using a two-way fixed-effects model to account for both time-specific shocks and time-invariant district characteristics, we find that an increase in e-scooter returns is associated with higher sales based on within-district variation rather than cross-sectional differences. However, the magnitude of this effect varies by district type. The findings indicate that the impact of e-scooter usage on sales growth is more pronounced in alleyway markets, where baseline accessibility is structurally limited and mobility improvements generate larger marginal gains. These districts benefit more significantly due to their reliance on local foot traffic and limited accessibility via traditional transit systems. In addition, the effect also varies by store type, with quick-consumption venues such as coffee shops and convenience stores showing stronger responses than full-service restaurants, consistent with the higher sensitivity of short-duration, convenience-driven consumption to improvements in short-distance accessibility. This study suggests that shared e-scooters may improve mobility and access in regions underserved by transit infrastructure. The findings suggest that shared micro-mobility may play a contributing role in fostering differentiated and economically meaningful improvements, particularly in walkable but commercially constrained districts, thereby contributing to more inclusive forms of urban economic development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 104917"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gains from air connectivity: effects on manufacturing firm emissions","authors":"Xiangru Wu ,&nbsp;Minghui Ma ,&nbsp;Kangyin Dong ,&nbsp;Kun Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaowen Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104852","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104852","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Air transport is known for its role in promoting economic growth and global trade. However, its potential effects for promoting technological advancement and reducing pollution emissions from manufacturing firms have yet to be well studied. This study aims to identify the causal effects of city air connectivity on the manufacturing firm emissions in China by matching firm data with city aviation development data from 2005 to 2013. We focus on sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions because of their detrimental impact on human health. An air connectivity index is constructed to measure how well each city is connected to the aviation network. Using instrumental variable methods, we find that a 1<!--> <!-->% increase in city air connectivity leads to a 0.1<!--> <!-->% decrease in SO₂ emissions from manufacturing firms. This reduction is driven by technological advancements in both production and emission control processes, facilitated by a more accessible aviation network and the increased interactions of business travelers. The underlying mechanisms operate through three key channels: (1) enhanced green production efficiency at the firm level, (2) increased patent applications at the firm level, and (3) city-level growth in the scientific research and technical services industry. We use these estimates to quantify the deaths prevented and years of life saved by the improved air quality caused by enhanced air connectivity. These findings underscore the significant environmental and public health co-benefits of strengthening city air connectivity, highlighting aviation infrastructure as a viable pathway toward sustainable and healthy urban development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104852"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social-psychological determinants and nonlinear thresholds: behavioral insights into urban air mobility adoption as an airport shuttle","authors":"Kaihan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiang Liu ,&nbsp;Qinyu Cui ,&nbsp;Xing Gao ,&nbsp;Mengqiu Cao ,&nbsp;Inhi Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging mobility service increasingly proposed by cities worldwide. Among its various applications, UAM as an airport shuttle offers particularly strong early-stage commercial potential. However, understanding of the key factors influencing the adoption of UAM as an airport shuttle service remains limited, particularly regarding the role of social-psychological factors and their tolerance thresholds from a nonlinear perspective, where critical points in factors such as time or cost may shift the decision from declination to acceptance. Using a stated-preference survey of 1250 respondents from South Korea, this study identifies the primary determinants of UAM adoption and examines their decision thresholds using a newly proposed hybrid approach that combines automated machine learning (AutoML) and statistical models in a complementary manner. The results show thatt: (1) Previously overlooked social psychological factors, such as individuals seeking time savings, environmental benefits, and openness to new technologies, play adominant role, accounting for 55.4 % of explanatory power in predicting adoption decisions. (2) Threshold effects emerge in airport trip chains, with first-mile and in-vehicle durations under 15 min or over one hour marking critical adoption points; and (3) UAM holds strong substitute potential for car use for long-distance airport access. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and service providers aiming to promote UAM adoption, emphasizing the need to align service design and marketing strategies with users’ psychological motivations and to improve access environments for UAM connectivity within urban areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104856"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating short-turning strategy into timetabling for first train coordination in subway networks","authors":"Hao Li ,&nbsp;Norman Weik ,&nbsp;Liujiang Kang ,&nbsp;Yue Zhao ,&nbsp;Huijun Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring connectivity in extended and continuously growing subway networks during the early morning start-up period becomes more and more challenging due to the limited number of trains and increasing infrastructure restrictions. In the present paper, train coordination strategies to maximize the connectivity of all origin-destination (OD) pairs and their effectiveness are investigated. An integrated mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is developed to simultaneously optimize short-turning plans and first train timetables. The model takes into account travel path choices between OD pairs and the impact of short-turning trains on ride plans. As the number of potential short-turning plans grows exponentially, computing an optimal solution incorporating all possible timetable schemes will be nearly impossible. As a result, a hierarchical two-stage optimization framework is developed to improve train short-turning and timetable coordination, which combines a breadth-first branch-and-cut algorithm for generating short-turning plans with a customized column generation algorithm for determining optimal train timetable coordination. To investigate the influence of network structure on coordination, we conducted two case studies with distinct network characteristics: Munich (shared-corridor network) and Beijing (grid network). The experimental results show that the proposed short-turning strategy effectively improves operational efficiency in both networks. Furthermore, comprehensive comparisons of solution accuracy and computational time demonstrate that our algorithm outperforms several commonly-used heuristic algorithms. Moreover, compared to the exhaustive enumeration benchmark, our algorithm sacrifices only 0.22% of solution accuracy while saving 55.26% of CPU time in the tested network. In particular, in Munich, affected passengers are roughly evenly divided between adapting by adjusting their travel paths and switching to alternative shared-corridor services. In contrast, in Beijing’s grid network, passengers can only detour their travel paths due to the lack of substitute services. These findings highlight that while short-turning operations facilitate faster transfers and reduce overall travel time, the impacts of short turnings on travel efficiency strongly depend on the underlying network structure. In conclusion, integration of short-turning and timetabling can effectively improve first train coordination in subway networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104851"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Explaining patterns of cycling speed stability and disruption","authors":"Hong Yan ,&nbsp;Kees Maat ,&nbsp;Bert van Wee","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104855","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cycling speed is an important attribute of bicycle traffic flow, being related to travel times, safety and road capacity. Although cycling speed changes constantly during a trip, it is typically measured at the trip-average or aggregated level, and microscopic speed fluctuations are rarely studied. This study aims to quantitatively understand the cycling speed stability within a trip and the determinants of speed stability and disruption. To this end, data from bicycle trips tracked with GPS devices are used. A change point detection method, the pruned exact linear time (PELT) algorithm, is adapted to split trip trajectories into segments differing in speed stability. Then, a rule-based algorithm is developed to classify segments into six speed (in)stability patterns: stable, increase, decrease, V-shape (speed decreases followed by increases), reverse V-shape (speed increases followed by decreases) and complicated unstable patterns. Finally, a two-level multinomial model is estimated to examine the determinants of different patterns. The findings suggest that stable patterns account for half the trip distances, and their speed is higher than the speed of unstable patterns. The V-shape pattern is the most frequent unstable type. Intersections, turns and built-up land use are the main causes of unstable speeds. Cycling on physically separate paths tends to involve more unstable speeds than on mixed-use infrastructures, such as bicycle streets and bicycle tracks. This study finds that daily cycling involves a considerable amount of unstable speed. While its effects have not been directly examined, speed instability likely increases travel times and physical effort and is perceived negatively by cyclists. This underscores the potential benefits of a smooth cycling network and highlights the need for future research on the role of speed stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104855"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-linear effects of built environment on cyclists’ perceived safety and comfort using online pairwise voting","authors":"Lurong Xu ,&nbsp;Shuli Luo ,&nbsp;Alexa Delbosc ,&nbsp;Steve O’Hern ,&nbsp;Zhuo Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2025.104850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how built environment (BE) features influence cyclists’ perceptions is critical for designing human-centric and bike-friendly spaces. While previous research has largely focused on objective cycling conditions, this study addresses a key gap by investigating the non-linear relationships between BE features and cyclists’ subjective perceptions of safety and comfort, through a novel integration of Street View Images (SVIs), computer vision (CV), and explainable machine learning (ML). Using a pairwise voting survey, 150 participants evaluated 300 SVIs, with the results extrapolated to 5,176 locations using CV and ML models. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) framework quantified threshold effects and highlighted asymmetries between perceived safety and comfort, revealing three key insights: (1) Over 80% of subjective perceptions are explained by spatial chaos, greenery, cycle lane type, feature entropy, perceived road width, and crowdedness, though their relative importance and thresholds vary; (2) Several BE features exhibit threshold effects, including notable inverted “V-shaped” trends, with safety demonstrating higher sensitivity and lower tolerance to BE features compared to comfort; (3) Comfort-oriented interventions are particularly effective in heritage areas where structural constraints limit safety improvements. These findings emphasize the need for localized and context-sensitive strategies that differentiate between safety-oriented and comfort-prioritized interventions, enabling more effective cyclist-friendly urban design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104850"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The new rhythm of travel: an empirical investigation of intrapersonal day-to-day variability in the era of tele-activities","authors":"Kaili Wang ,&nbsp;Khandker Nurul Habib","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the day-to-day variability in the trade-offs between online activities (telecommuting and e-shopping) and out-of-home travel behaviours using a seven-day travel diaries dataset collected in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Canada. This investigation is particularly relevant, given the shifts towards telecommuting and the influence of Information and communication technology (ICT) on daily life. The analysis of variance results confirmed that day-to-day intrapersonal variability dominates the total variability in the number of trips, travel time expenditure, and distance travelled during a week. The Box-Cox regression results show that regular commuters are associated with more stable trip rates. Adopting telecommuting and online cooked meal delivery (CMD) are correlated with increased trip rate variability. However, frequent CMD users and workers with hybrid workplace arrangements are correlated with consistent travel distances during the weekdays. This study’s findings warrant a multi-day approach to evaluate ICT-related impact on travel demand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104888"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Should AI be allowed to break the law? Public acceptance and tolerance of discretionary actions performed by autonomous vehicles in response to situations varying by degree of acuteness","authors":"Qiyuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Victoria Marcinkiewicz ,&nbsp;Louise Bowen ,&nbsp;Theodor Kozlowski ,&nbsp;Tatsuhiko Inatani ,&nbsp;Yoshiyuki Ueda ,&nbsp;Hirofumi Katsuno ,&nbsp;Minoru Asada ,&nbsp;Phillip L. Morgan","doi":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tra.2026.104885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many countries are on the verge of introducing highly autonomous vehicles (AVs) into current traffic networks dominated by human-driven vehicles. The complex and dynamic nature of road traffic situations requires AVs to exhibit human-like, discretionary behaviours that may fall outside the scope of formal Rules of the Road (e.g., straddling solid lines to let an emergency-services vehicle pass). It is important to understand public attitudes towards these behaviours especially when they may lead to negative outcomes. The current paper presents three experiments in which participants’ judgements of blame and trust were probed after being presented with traffic scenarios where AVs or human drivers chose to perform (Experiment 1 &amp; 2) or not perform (Experiment 3) legal or illegal discretionary actions (DAs) to avoid a danger or optimize traffic flow, with various consequences. The results reveal that AVs were blamed more and trusted less than human drivers for performing the same illegal DAs. But with legal DAs, this difference was contingent on the acuteness of traffic situations, hinting toward a shift of judgemental focus from the justifiability of an action to the quality of their execution. Additionally, witnessing AVs performing (or not performing) DAs could potentially improve or worsen their general acceptance depending on the outcomes of the DAs. Our findings paint a promising picture of allowing adaptive behaviours of AVs yet highlight the need to establish formal protocols for designing, regulating, and appraising DAs of AVs as well as the necessity of improving the transparency of their decision-making processes for users.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49421,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 104885"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}