MODELLING THE ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC LOCAL TRANSPORT FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICE. THE CASE STUDY OF ROCCELLA AREA IN PALERMO

This paper suggests a methodology to assess, through quantitative indicators, the public transport based accessibility inside an urban area. Such indicators derive from two functions, one called “activity function”, allowing for the presence of generators and attractors of mobility and another termed the “impedance function”, measuring the generalized cost of public transport journeys. The proposed method was tested and applied to a zone on the outskirts of Palermo (capital of the Sicilian Region), to evaluate the effects of a new tram line, which is under construction and will be activated by the end of 2012. The study shows that such a line is not sufficient to enhance significantly the a…