The Evolvement of Rail Transit Network Structure and Impact on Travel Characteristics: A Case Study of Wuhan

The expansion of the rail transit network has a positive impact on travel characteristics under spatial and temporal constraints by changing accessibility. However, few empirical studies have examined the longitudinal evolution of the impact of accessibility and travel characteristics. In this paper, a model of the Wuhan rail transit network is constructed and the evolution of the spatial pattern of accessibility over different periods is analyzed. The correlation of accessibility with rail transit travel characteristics is studied longitudinally to provide theoretical support for rail transit construction and traffic demand management. The study shows that: (1) Wuhan’s rail transit network has evolved from a tree to a ring, improving the operational efficiency. (2) The accessibility of Wuhan’s rail transit network has evolved into a circular structure, showing a decreasing trend away from the city center. (3) The change of accessibility greatly affects travel characteristics. The higher the accessibility, the higher the traffic volume, and the lower the travel frequency, the more residents travel during peak hours, and the shorter the travel distance. These findings are useful for gaining insight into public transportation demand in large cities, and thus for developing reasonable transportation demand management policies.