Applying space syntax for surface rapid transit planning

This paper presents a technique aimed to assist in planning of surface rapid transit alignment in a metropolitan area by applying space syntax configurational approach. The technique proposed in this study was applied to the proposed surface rapid transit network for the Metropolitan Area of Tel Aviv. For this research a bi-modal model of the spatial structure, which includes the street network as well as the planned rapid transit routes, was analyzed. The results show that that a substantial share of the network's alignment can be described solely by measuring through-movement potentials. This finding demonstrates the significant role of spatial accessibility analysis in transit planning. Consequently, this study provides a reproducible methodology for identifying the routes which hold the highest potential to serve as strategic movement corridors at a metropolitan scale, thus improving current RTS (Rapid Transit System) planning practice.