Optimal public transport networks for a general urban structure

- Method and application to design strategic transit lines structures over a quite general parametric description of urban systems based on the hierarchy of its centers and a simple representation of the necessary network.
- Four strategic line structures are examined: direct, exclusive, hub-and-spoke and feeder-trunk.
- The best structures, frequencies and vehicle sizes, are found as a function of the parameters. Each structure can dominate under specific conditions.
- The most important parameters found are those related with center structure (mostly monocentric, polycentric or dispersed), transfer penalty and patronage.
- The relations between the characteristics of both the urban setting and the users with the strategic line structure that shows the best response, are identified.

Using a quite general parametric description of an urban setting in terms of its network, centers structure and demand pattern, we find the optimal spatial arrangement of transit lines out of four basic strategic competing options: direct, exclusive, hub-and-spoke and feeder-trunk. We identify clearly the relation between the characteristics of both the urban setting (mostly monocentric, polycentric or dispersed) and the users (transfer penalty, patronage) with the line structure that shows the best response.