Locating Bus Rapid Transit stops using GIS and AHP: the Vo Van Kiet - Mai Chi Tho route in Ho Chi Minh City

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is one of public vehicle systems in modern cities to provide transportation services fast, confortable, and cost saving. However, effectiveness of one BRT route depends on the locations of its stops. This study focuses on determining optimal locations to build the stops of a BRT route. Firstly, criteria having influences on effective operation of a BRT stop are explorered, consisting of i) traveling demands, e.g. buildings, offices, industrial parks, hopitals, etc; ii) public transportations, e.g. metro stations, bus stops, etc; and iii) roads, e.g. crossroads, parking lots, etc. Secondly, each criterion is assigned a weighted factor representative for its influence, determined by the AHP method. Finally, the progress of data processing in GIS environment is established to create a weighted overlay map from all criteria. Subsequently, locations having high values are reasonable to build BRT stops. This progress has been applied to locate BRT stops of the Vo Van Kiet – Mai Chi Tho route in Ho Chi Minh City. The result indicates 40 BRT stops along this route, and it is considered as a scientific reference to help the city government in decision making.