Analyzing the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) passengers' spatio-temporal characteristics during Covid-19 using Singapore smart card data

Keywords: smart card data, spatio-temporal passenger flow, COVID-19, Singapore
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

One of the main forms of public transport in Singapore is mass rapid transit (MRT). Improving the effectiveness of public transportation will greatly benefit from a better understanding of the mobility habits of MRT riders. Singapore, a city-state with a significant population, serves as an example of urban efficient mechanisms that can be used to guide future urban planning. This study examined the spatio-temporal aspects of MRT commuting before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020), during the pandemic's initial outbreak (May 2020), and during the Omicron wave (February 2022). Moreover, a map application was built to show the passenger flows based on the smart card data as well as their relationships with land use types. Results indicate that the spatial patterns of MRT commuting were generally in line with Singapore's polycentric urban structure. Apart from the central business district, a number of other regional centers also served as MRT travel hotspots over time. Additionally, there was a significant loss in MRT passenger flows during the outbreak of the pandemic, particularly during the "circuit breaker" phase. Last but not least, relationships between MRT station passenger volumes and the percentage of neighboring land use categories (such as residential and recreational land uses) have been found.