Assessing the level of sustainable integration between inland water transport and other modes

Seamless travel is important in enhancing the overall user satisfaction with any public transit facility. The present study aims to assess the sustainable level of integration between land based multimodal transport systems with Inland Water Transportation (IWT) systems. Study employs Assessment Indicator Model (AIM) to arrive at Sustainable Seamless Travel Index (SSTI) and further evaluates the effect of different transport policies on the SSTI using Monte Carlo Simulation. Methodology is applied to assess the level of sustainable integration between Kochi water metro, Asia’s first fully electric water mass transit, with land-based transport modes (public transportation, intermediate public transportation and active transportation modes). Through literature, 21 sustainability indicators spanning across 4 sustainability dimensions were identified. Indicator values were measured through extensive user perception survey and inventory survey. The data collection was carried out at four water metro terminals. Further, expert opinions were obtained to assign weights to the sustainability indices. SSTI results concluded that water metro terminal at Vytilla is having a better sustainable integration compared to other three terminals. Best policy initiative for High court and Fort Kochi water metro terminals was facilitating “bicycle carry-it-along with water metro” while for Kakkanad and Vytilla water metro terminals it was “integration of bus timings with water metro”. The methodology adopted and the study findings will assist the policy makers, practitioners and the water metro operators in improving the sustainable integration of various transport modes with IWT, thereby leading to better overall user satisfaction.