These days, the places where people live, work and spend their leisure time are often further apart than ever before. This phenomenon has a wide-ranging impact on transport network utilisation and spatial and settlement structures.

Public transport coverage in existing and future settlement areas plays a major role in the selection of a place to live or locate a business and is also a central aspect of spatial planning processes. The alignment of settlement development with public transport infrastructure helps promote compact settlement structures. Such an approach also makes it possible to more effectively address the challenges associated with increasing mobility and traffic volume. Good public transport connections and coverage allow land to be utilised more economically as a resource, which can help limit the increase in land use. This indicator is used in spatial planning processes to assess the quality of public transport coverage in building zones.

Public transport quality ratings
How can public transport coverage in a building zone or particular location be assessed? So-called public transport quality ratings are an important instrument for evaluating public transport coverage. These ratings provide information on the quality of coverage at specific public transport stops and stations and the surrounding area. They are based on three criteria: transport mode, frequency of service and distance to stops/stations. The better the mode of transport (fast trains, urban/commuter rail, trams, express buses, local buses) available at a particular stop and the greater the number of departures between 6 am and 10 pm, the higher the quality assessment for that stop will be. Locations in the vicinity of major rail hubs and urban and other rail lines with a high frequency of service are rated highly (Class A), while those at somewhat of a distance from a local bus stop with a relatively low frequency of service are given a lower rating – for example Class D.
The quality ratings make it possible to identify locations that have good public transport coverage and which therefore display high potential for development.