PLANNING OF PUBLIC BUS SERVICES USING GIS IN RAJSHAHI CITY, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Rajshahi, an expanding urban centre in Bangladesh, has no public bus services. The mass transportation system in the city is mainly based on rickshaws and bicycles (50% of total trips). This study reports existing transport system of the city and identifies possible public bus routes and stops using GIS through field survey. The trip generation and distribution behaviour and modal choice behavior of the city dwellers are also analyzed. A total of 35 bus stops were proposed for developing bus service in the city.  Three routes have been proposed through analysis of alternatives considering mainly traffic flow characteristics. The service area of each bus stop was identified by generating buffers in a GIS. Then the possible number of trips from each stop to all other stops was estimated. This study reveals that public bus service is feasible for the city from technical, financial and socio-economic perspectives. This study recommends the construction of passenger sheds, terminal facilities and other facilities for the proposed bus services.