A framework for measuring the spatial equity in the distribution of public transportation benefits

Abstract

This paper proposes that an equitable transit system requires that the geographical distribution of transit service benefits conform to the geographical distribution of the citizens with the greatest need for public transportation. This is the essence of vertical equity. This study calculated “connectivity power,” which reflects public transit service quality in each traffic analysis zone (TAZ) in a city to indicate the amount of benefit that TAZ is receiving from the transit system. The number of carless citizens in each TAZ was also calculated as an index of need to the public transit services in that area. Conformity of need and supply was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation and the Gini index. This framework indicates that in Isfahan, Iran, adding three bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and completing the existing metro line would not improve the Gini index but would improve the Spearman’s rank correlation to an acceptable level.