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Level of Service Criteria of Rail Road Grade Crossing Based on the Perceptions of Motorist and Non-motorist

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Abstract

The current study explores whether motorists’ and non-motorists’ perceptions of level of service (LOS) accounting for various attributes at rail road grade crossings (RRGCs) are identical or different by develo** separate perceived LOS models for each group. In this connection, an extensive questionnaire survey has been conducted in the vicinity of 21 RRGCs across nine Indian states, and extensive data set of 7588 responses has been gathered. Separate ordered probit models are subsequently developed to investigate the impact of variables on the motorists’ and non-motorists’ perception of LOS. The result of the models show that certain variables have a negative effect on perceived LOS; some have a positive effect while others are found insignificant. Both motorists and nonmotorists experience a decline in the perception of LOS as “perceived gate blockage duration, gate-to-gate distance, and presence of heavy vehicles” increase. On the other hand, qualitative factors like “crossing surface quality, lateral visibility, road marking and warning sign, and aesthetics” forecast a significantly positive effect, implying that enhancing these factors improves perceived LOS. Furthermore, among the trip-related factors that have been demonstrated to have a significant effect on perceived LOS for both motorists and non-motorists are “trip type and trip duration”. Moreover, “Age” seemed to have no effect on motorist perceptions; however, “frequency of trip, road width, and presence of pedestrians” have been proven to have no influnce on non-motorists’ perceptions of LOS. Hence, the findings of this research would assist the policymakers in taking the appropriate action to improve the operational reliability of RRGCs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, School of Studies in Engineering and Technology, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, 495009, India

    Adheesh Kumar Vivek

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, Dhanbad, 826004, India

    Smruti Sourava Mohapatra

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology Sarang, Dhenkanal, Odisha, 759146, India

    Ansuman Padhi

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  1. Adheesh Kumar Vivek
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  2. Smruti Sourava Mohapatra
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Correspondence to Smruti Sourava Mohapatra.

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Vivek, A.K., Mohapatra, S.S. & Padhi, A. Level of Service Criteria of Rail Road Grade Crossing Based on the Perceptions of Motorist and Non-motorist. Transp. in Dev. Econ. 10, 19 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40890-024-00209-x

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