CityMobil2 project. Users preferences for automation and analysis of the ARTS in Oristano

The first part of the work reports on the results of the investigations about users’ attitudes towards ARTS and conventional buses that have been carried out, within the CityMobil2 project, in twelve cities, through a common stated preference questionnaire. The related econometric analysis has been based on the estimation of a logit model with two alternatives considered: ARTS and minibus. Besides the contribution of the attributes of waiting time, riding time and fare, it has been estimated the alternative specific constant (ASC) of the ARTS, which represents the mean of all the unobserved attributes of the automated system affecting the choice; a positive value of the ASC, the observed attributes being the same, indicates a relatively higher preference for the ARTS. This is the situation for the cities where the ARTS is implemented inside a major facility. Instead, the effect of the socio-economic attributes of the users, turns out to be heterogeneous accross cities. The second part of the work reports on the technical and economic-financial analysis of an ARTS tested on a route on the seafront of Oristano (Sardinia, Italy). In particular, a cost-benefit analysis where ARTS is compared with conventional minibus is conducted. The differential consumer’s surplus is quantified employing site-specific values for waiting time, riding time and the ASC, derived from the estimation of the logit models. The results show the existence of several feasibility areas for the ARTS, depending on the potential demand level assumed.