Analysis of Mode Reliability Factors among Off-Campus Students Using Structural Equation Modeling in Dhaka City

Abstract

Determining the mode choice for movement in developing cities like Dhaka is beset with multifaceted challenges and intricacies, rendering it an arduous undertaking. Numerous factors contribute to the complexity, thereby impeding the selection of an optimal transportation mode. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) attracts students from various regions and cultures in Dhaka city. Examining users’ perceptions of preferred mode choice is the primary objective of this study. Transportation performance of buses and institutional buses was considered as most of the off-campus students are highly dependent on these two modes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was implemented to create two distinct empirical models to investigate the correlations between key factors that impact public transportation mode choice. Models were calibrated using data from 1664 respondents who were formally surveyed about their expectations, experiences, and opinions regarding their usual means of transportation. There were 20 attributes of travel experience including safety, comfort, cost, travel time, waiting time, convenience, reliability, availability, environment friendliness, driver behavior, overtaking tendency, vehicle speed, obeying the law, accident probability, weather, punctuality of arrival and departure, etc. Policy implications have been analyzed in the context of a developing country such as Bangladesh from the perceived ratings on mode choice so that by providing reliable, efficient, and student-friendly transportation options, educational institutions, planners, and transportation authorities can support the success and overall well-being of off-campus students.

Keywords

• modal analysis
• structural equation modeling
• mode choice