Criteria for Assessing the Safety and Functionality of Tram Stops

• Published in: Sustainability Vol. 14; no. 20; p. 13162
• Main Authors: Rydlewski, Mateusz, Tubis, Agnieszka A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Analysis; Bus stops; Buses; Criteria; Decision making; Evaluation; Infrastructure; Light rail transit; Literature reviews; Modernization; Multiple criteria decision making; Passenger safety; Pedestrians; Public transportation; Roads & highways; Safety; Safety and security measures; Sustainability; Traffic accidents & safety; Transportation systems; Transportation terminals; Poland
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su142013162

The selection of criteria in the developed methods of analysis and evaluation has a significant impact on the implemented decision-making processes. For this reason, the very process of identifying the correct criteria is a research challenge worth undertaking. The conducted literature review shows that in the methodology of assessing tram and bus stops, the researchers focus primarily on aspects related to safety. Assessment of the functionality of tram stops becomes no less important. However, a literature review shows that this range of stops is sporadically mentioned in publications. Meanwhile, from a practical point of view, the aspects related to ensuring the required functionality in the tram stop zone are as important as the safety of passengers. That is why we surveyed experts who perform official functions in cities with a tram transport system. The conducted research was aimed at: (1) assessment of the elements and selected parameters of the stop infrastructure in terms of their impact on the safety and functionality of stops; (2) assessment of the inter-relationship between safety and functionality criteria when analyzing individual factors. The article aims to present the results obtained during the structured interviews and their interpretation. The obtained research results and their classification constitute not only scientific material, but they can also be used by people and organizations involved in the design, evaluation, and modernization of tram stops. The obtained results should also be analyzed by teams developing urban standards for transport infrastructure.