Multi-criteria evaluation of public transport interchanges

Interchanges play a key role in the public transport system at various levels of offered connections: from local or regional transport through national and international transport. Carefully planned and appropriately executed interchanges facilitate integration between different modes of public transport, allow passengers to shorten journey duration and to reduce effort required to change the means of transport.The question is how to evaluate and compare the advantages and disadvantages caused by various interchanges. The proposed method includes a comprehensive analysis of many aspects of the accessibility of interchanges for passengers. On the one hand, it takes into account the distance to go between tram/bus stops within the interchange, but on the other hand, it considers the quality of the infrastructure maintenance of stops and footpaths, availability and comprehensiveness of information for passengers and personal safety and the safety of traffic as well as the qualitative dimensions of these indicators.The usefulness of the method is presented on the basis of the assessment of selected interchanges in Krakow.