Preferences of Public Transit Commuters: Evidence from Smart Card Data in Singapore

Abstract

This study employs an administrative dataset containing high-frequency transaction records for approximately four million smart transit cards used by Singaporean residents in order to study the travel preferences of public transport commuters. We examine the impact of service attributes, including travel time, reliability and travel cost, on commuters’ transportation mode choices and estimate the implied value of travel time (VOT) and value of reliability (VOR) for different types of public transit commuters. The results show significant heterogeneity in the transport preferences of commuters, with adult transit commuters having higher VOT and VOR relative to senior citizens, students and children. Within the adult group, commuters who frequently switch their transportation modes have significantly higher VOT and VOR. These results have important implications for policymakers in formulating strategies to improve the efficiency of the public transport system, and having flexible and customized transport services could increase the utility and satisfaction levels of public transit commuters.

Keywords: Public transportation, travel preference, value of travel time, value of reliability, big data

JEL Classification: C23, D04, R41, R48