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Performance classification of Tunisian public transport operators

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Abstract

Improving public transport performance can encourage motorists to change their attitude and behavior. This improvement should bring the quality of service and attractiveness of public transport to counterbalance the benefits of the private car and to increase the total number of passengers. In this paper, the performance analysis is conducted in three main stages. The first step in this process is continuously introduced to adjust the sets of indicators and to measure the performance of public transport operators. The indicators selected are related to efficiency, economic and financial efficiency, pertinence and quality of service. With these indicators, managers can quickly identify the performance and implement effective and efficient public transport systems in Tunisian cities. Regarding the second step, we assessed the performance of public transport operators in Tunisia. The multi-criteria evidential reasoning provides the public transport authority with tools to control operators at all levels, to improve the performance of the public transport system and in this case all public transport operators can know their positions in relation to existing local companies. The third step is the development of performance risk management plans. To achieve this goal, we have developed an approach that allows predicting the possible evolution of the performance situation and classifying the progress made in the public transport sector year by year. The results obtained show that the public transport in Tunisia is not attractive. The overall figures of economic and financial efficiency reveal a relatively low performance and the vast majority of cities have a defective public transport network.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Management (FSEG) of Sfax, B.P. 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Ahmed Derbel & Younes Boujelbene

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  1. Ahmed Derbel
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  2. Younes Boujelbene
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Correspondence to Ahmed Derbel.

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Derbel, A., Boujelbene, Y. Performance classification of Tunisian public transport operators. Public Transp 15, 535–574 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12469-023-00321-y

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