Abstract
The goal of this study is to propose a number of water transportation-related strategies which enhance the usage of the water transportation mode. In this study, Nonthaburi area, which is suburban of Bangkok, and Downtown Bangkok were selected as the study areas for the analysis. In contrast to the surface transportation, water transportation has a potential to provide a good service for passengers and goods movements. Particularly, in Bangkok there is a Chao Phraya river which runs through the center of city. It provides reliable, pollution-free, and scheduled transportation service. To obtain the model representing the trip characteristics and mode choice behavior, the Revealed Preference (RP) is employed. The Multinomial and Nested Logit Model were examined in order to explain the mode choice behaviors of travelers who travel between the study areas. The significant attributes in demand model were identified. Examples of significant attributes are in-vehicle travel time, out-of vehicle travel time, travel cost, number of car ownership, income level. The results showed that different trip purposes, work and non-work trips, had totally different mode choice behaviors. In the application stage, the developed model is employed to estimate the effects of policy decisions on travel behavior of overall patronage by changes in travel time and cost of water transportation mode. Several strategies that can improve the water transportation mode are discussed including service frequencies, information technology and multimodal transit center.
