Stated Preference studies return important information about the passengers relative priority of different kinds of improvements. The studies give indicators of how the users value alternatives for investments in the system. Similar Stated Preference studies have been conducted in six different cities in Norway. This study is based on computerised home interviews of regular public transport passengers. During the interview each person was given the opportunity to choose among alternative packages of service levels. Each package described a public transport service of different standard for certain factors and various costs connected to this service level. The preferred choices of the interviews made it possible to estimate the individual valuations of the different service factors. The following factors were specified: reduced travel time (including walking, waiting and interchange time), improved regularity, improved quality on the stops and vehicle standard. The study also contains different questions connected to the competition between public transport and car, bicycle and walking. The results show that the value of time varies with different levels of service and market segments.
Abstract