Preference Model in the Context of Mobility as a Service: A Pilot Case Study

In this paper, a pilot study of a pre-test preference model in the context of mobility as a service (MaaS) is defined by following the steps required for transport system engineering: survey, specification, calibration, and validation. The availability of a MaaS preference model is crucial to support decision takers and decision makers before starting planning activities for new, sustainable transport services. In this paper, a pre-test model is proposed for evaluating user preferences. The pre-test model was specified with a Logit random utility model and the parameters were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. To define the preference model, a pilot survey was conducted in the Gioia Tauro area, an extra-urban area in southern Italy. For the pre-test model, a pilot sample of users was considered. In the area, a high percentage of users traveled by an individual transport system; this high percentage was also present in the survey, with 76% traveling by private car. Short- and long-distance scenarios were proposed to users. In the calibrated model, it emerged that bundles were more attractive for long-distance journeys and decreased with the cost of the package. The additional cost in the present scenario influenced the preference for bundle cost. Considering the parking cost in the present scenario (scenario 2), the MaaS preference probability started at higher probability values but increased less quickly. The pre-test model was defined starting from a pilot sample and represents the basis for a larger MaaS preference model built starting from a larger survey and a sample with a greater number of calibrated parameters.