Reforming the main public transport systems path of Mashhad city using ant colony algorithm and improving access

Applying of two systems Light Rail Transit and Bus Rapid Transit as skeleton of public transport has been defined in Mashhad city. There are problems in the line routes of the system including about 50 percent coverage with each other along their routes that this problem reduces the system's coverage. This research is done with the aim of re-designing of the mentioned routes with a view to maximizing system access. Research method is both qualitative and quantitative and it is applied research. To reform the public transport skeleton routes a mathematical modeling approach is applied using ant colony algorithm. Then combined access index using Hansen method has been calculated divided to 253 traffic zones and in two different cases, system status quo and the system proposed by research. The population access, the places of employment and attractive land uses were have noticed on calculating the mentioned index. The research data were obtained from database of comprehensive transportation study of Mashhad which was update at 2013 using documentary study. Improved routes of public transit skeleton have been defined as the results of this research that they have no coverage with each other so the system coverage is increased while their overall length is less than the approved routes. Also the access index significantly increased in case of modified system compare with the primary one. Given that the existing public transit skeleton system has been designed with methods based on movement, the results of this research reveals differences between the methods based on movement and access in case of designing of public transport.