Evaluation of transit-oriented development based on 9D’s approach in developing countries context

Abstract

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) involves meticulously planned urban development, typically around metro stations, to initiate sustainable outcomes. However, this integrated urban and transportation planning requires a thorough evaluation of the station areas, which is currently lacking in the case of developing world. This work seeks to construct a TOD index using the proposed 9-D criteria which includes density, diversity, design, distance to transit, destination accessibility, demand management, desirability of transit, dissonance, and deference to the environment for evaluating and classifying ten station areas of Hyderabad (India) into different TOD types. The indicators were selected via a Delphi survey, which, with the input of experts' opinions, ranked the indicators according to 9 parameters and narrowed the field down to 27 key indicators. A Best-Worst Method (BWM) has been adopted to carry out the evaluation, while k-means clustering technique is used to classify the station areas. The station areas are assessed in terms of transit status, orientation status, and development status. Using this, certain policy suggestions can be devised for each TOD type to ensure more sustainable outcomes. An increase in TOD-ness through a ground-level manipulation of the TOD criteria is more likely to be a greater success in fulfilling the TOD policy goals.