Stay Two-Meters Apart: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing Protocols on Subway Station Walkway Performance

Sheng Dong, Afaq Khattak (), Feng Chen and Feifei Xu
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Sheng Dong: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China
Afaq Khattak: College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Feng Chen: College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Feifei Xu: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Ensuring passenger safety in public transportation systems is a critical challenge, especially under pandemic conditions that necessitate adherence to social distancing measures, such as maintaining a two-meter distance between individuals. This research focuses on evaluating the performance of subway station walkways when subjected to these distancing requirements. To conduct this analysis, a discrete-event simulation (DES) approach was implemented. This technique models the movement and interaction of passengers within station walkways as discrete events, allowing for a detailed assessment of system performance under various conditions. Key performance indicators, including the average area occupied by each passenger, the time spent on the walkway (dwell time), and the likelihood of congestion (blocking probability), were evaluated. The DES considered varying passenger arrival patterns by utilizing phase-type (PH) distribution and walkway dimensions to reflect a range of real-world scenarios. The operational outcomes under normal conditions were compared with those observed under pandemic-induced social distancing protocols. Through this comparison, insights were provided into how enforced distancing impacts walkway efficiency, and we identified potential bottlenecks.

Keywords: COVID-19; subway station; walkways; discrete-event simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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