In the process of rapid economic development, the intensification of city population and city function has resulted in inevitable problems of transportation in modern society. Thus, the role of public transportation has been emphasized as a way of sol...
In the process of rapid economic development, the intensification of city population and city function has resulted in inevitable problems of transportation in modern society. Thus, the role of public transportation has been emphasized as a way of solving the transportation problems of cities. Recently, the value-in-use perspective in which the values of transportation are generated from its user is dominant, which regards users of public transportation more actively. Therefore, policymakers recommend the utilization of public transportation through policies on public transportation to enhance satisfaction level as a representative index from public transportation users’ views while significantly recognizing public transportation users.
Satisfaction levels can be differently evaluated according to individual characteristics, and the effects of service factors can vary depending on groups. Such aspect is expressed as the heterogeneity of intercept and slope of model. To consider the heterogeneity of intercept, panel regression analysis was applied, and latent class analysis classifying sub-groups based on response patterns was utilized for the heterogeneity of slope. This study analyzed the effects of each service factor satisfaction level on overall satisfaction level by establishing a latent class panel analysis model to simultaneously consider the heterogeneity of slope and intercept by exploring the panel data of 「A study on the circumstances of public transportation transfer and user satisfaction level」 conducted by Korean Transportation Safety Authority from 2012 to 2014.
The results from the model establishment revealed that the possibility to belong to the low satisfaction class was higher with the factors of local province resident, female, non-car owner. Also, in the case of the low satisfaction class, the satisfaction of facilities utilization convenience, degree of complexity, transfer system establishment, allocation interval service were found to significantly affect the overall satisfaction. According to latent class panel analysis model with the classification of respondents by transportation measure, the distinction of classes was insignificant in the case of subway users, so the service was recognized as relatively homogenous. In the case of bus users, the possibility to belong to the low satisfaction class was higher with the factors of local province residents, non-car owners, or those who spend less for public transportation. It was analyzed that the effects of facilities utilization convenience, degree of complexity, transportation expense, and the transfer distance and time gave significant influences on this class.
Based on the research findings above, it was identified that the heterogeneity according to users and utilization characteristics of public transportation existed, and the effects of service factors per class were different each other. Therefore, for more efficient policies, different service for each class is required by setting target class.
This study has several limitations not to include the analysis of causes on changing the satisfaction or main transit mode per year. Thus, the additional studies on the factors to cause changes per year are expected to contribute to basic data for policy establishment for the enhancement of public transportation utilization rate.