Willingness to Pay for Station Access Transport: A Mixed Logit Model with Heterogeneous Travel Time Valuation

Varameth Vichiensan (), Vasinee Wasuntarasook, Sathita Malaitham, Atsushi Fukuda and Wiroj Rujopakarn
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Varameth Vichiensan: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Vasinee Wasuntarasook: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Sathita Malaitham: PSK Consultants, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Atsushi Fukuda: College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Chiba 274-8501, Japan
Wiroj Rujopakarn: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: This study estimates a willingness-to-pay (WTP) space mixed logit model to evaluate user valuations of travel time, safety, and comfort attributes associated with common access modes in Bangkok, including walking, motorcycle taxis, and localized minibuses. The model accounts for preference heterogeneity by specifying random parameters for travel time. Results indicate that users—exhibiting substantial variation in preferences—place higher value on reducing motorcycle taxi travel time, particularly in time-constrained contexts such as peak-hour commuting, whereas walking is more acceptable in less pressured settings. Safety and comfort attributes—such as helmet availability, smooth pavement, and seating—significantly influence access mode choice. Notably, the WTP for helmet availability is estimated at THB 8.04 per trip, equivalent to approximately 40% of the typical fare for station access, underscoring the importance of safety provision. Women exhibit stronger preferences for motorized access modes, reflecting heightened sensitivity to environmental and social conditions. This study represents one of the first applications of WTP-space modeling for valuing informal station access transport in Southeast Asia, offering context-specific and segment-level estimates. These findings support targeted interventions—including differentiated pricing, safety regulations, and service quality enhancements—to strengthen first-/last-mile connectivity. The results provide policy-relevant evidence to advance equitable and sustainable transport, particularly in rapidly urbanizing contexts aligned with SDG 11.2.

Keywords: willingness to pay (WTP); mixed logit model; station access mode choice; travel behavior heterogeneity; paratransit (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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