Resumen
User satisfaction is one of the key factors in running a successful city bus service from both passengers? and operators? perspective. To improve the facilities provided by public buses, a performance analysis is essential. Conventional empirical models, such as generalized linear mode (GLM) and multiple regression models have been used in several studies to predict bus performance characterizing parameters and overall performance of bus network system. This paper proposes a methodology for evaluating the overall performance provided by the bus network system at different operating conditions(viz. Office Days, Weekend Holidays, Festive Days, Rainy Days) prevailing in Dhaka Metropolitan city. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) is used to reveal the observed and unobserved performance defining parameters and their relationship with the overall performance of bus network system. Under the study, performance of the public buses has been identified by processing field survey data according to a suitable mathematical procedure. For this purpose, a total of 400 passengers of buses were interviewed with a predetermined structured questionnaire at different operating conditions to know their experience, level of satisfaction and opinion about the existing service as well as their expectations. Some attention-grabbing results have been obtained. Variation of parameters significance at different operating conditions has been shown. Three latent parameters have been found representing the overall bus network performance. And among the three of them roadway geometry obtains the highest weightage on overall bus network performance. Among the 14 observed parameters, number of private car obtains the highest weightage. However, during rainy days drainage system gets the highest weightage. This study also generates a ranking of the parameters that influence the overall performance of bus network system at different operating conditions. The study findings can be utilized by the city transportation officials to improve overall bus network performance to attract new passengers and retaining the current ones.