Evaluation of public transportation systems for sustainable cities using an integrated fuzzy multi-criteria group decision-making model

Abstract

In this era of increasing demand for mobility and rapid urban growth, there is a pressing need for a public transit system that is safe, fast, reliable, well-connected, and sustainable. Furthermore, it is essential to reduce the external costs associated with urban transportation, including environmental pollution, noise, congestion, and accidents, to foster sustainable cities. Choosing the right urban transportation system can meet this goal, but it is not an accessible business for decision-makers in the face of several conflicting criteria and ambiguities in the evaluation process. To cope with this, the current paper suggests a multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) framework consisting of fuzzy BWM (Best-Worst method) and fuzzy MAIRCIA (Multi-Attribute Ideal-Real Comparative Analysis) techniques. This extended MCGDM approach has been applied to evaluate six urban transport systems, namely, Trams, Light Rail Trams, Metro (Subway), Bus Rapid Transport, Commuter Trains, and Public Buses based on 11 selection criteria which we have determined after consultation with highly experienced professionals. The fuzzy BWM technique is employed to identify the weights of the criteria. The fuzzy MAIRCA technique is utilized for ranking the alternatives using the calculated weights of the criteria. The proposed approach's validation has been examined with an extensive robustness check. The study is conducted from a general perspective, i.e., not restricted to a particular city. However, with the identified selection criteria, the proposed decision-making procedure can be repeated for a specific city considering any specific requirements, constraints, or limitations of that city.