Residents’ Preferences and Use Intentions for a New BHLS-DRT Public Transport System in Sapporo

Abstract

This study examines residents' demand for the introduction of a BHLS-DRT system in residential areas adjacent to the city center. The proposed system integrates a high-speed, mass-transit Main Line bus (BHLS) service with a medium-speed, low-volume demand-responsive transport (DRT) service. The results of an SP survey targeting local residents to construct a transportation mode choice model showed that demand characteristics for these transportation options vary across generations. Moreover, the overall public transportation selection rate has increased significantly compared to the current system. Meanwhile, a high selection rate of the youth generation was estimated for DRT, which is a low-volume mode of transportation, indicating the need to set service levels to balance the supply and demand of the two new modes of transportation.