Impact Assessment of Trolleybus Line Extension on Urban Public Transport

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of extending a trolleybus line on urban public transport performance, using an integrated methodological framework that combines gravity-based accessibility modeling with before/after analysis of generalized travel cost. The proposed approach enables the simultaneous evaluation of both territorial and operational effects generated by infrastructure interventions.

The developed model establishes a direct relationship between generalized cost and accessibility and introduces an additional component that captures the influence of peri-urban areas on transport demand. This methodological extension is particularly relevant for mediumsized cities, where urban–peri-urban connections play an important role in shaping mobility flows.

The case study highlights the strategic role of interface nodes in increasing the attractiveness of the public transport network. The results indicate a reduction in generalized cost, an increase in accessibility for the served areas, and an estimated growth in transport demand.

The analysis shows that the impact of infrastructure interventions is not determined solely by their physical size, but by their position within the network and their ability to reduce critical components such as transfers and access time. The proposed model provides a consistent tool for evaluating public transport modernization and can be applied in strategic urban mobility planning processes.