Available online at www.CivileJournal.org Civil Engineering Journal (E-ISSN: 2476-3055; ISSN: 2676-6957) Vol. 8, No. 03, March, 2022 531 Heterogeneity based Mode Choice Behaviour for Introduction of Sustainable Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) Modes Saurabh Kumar 1 , Sanjeev Sinha 1* 1 Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar 800005, India. Received 18 November 2021; Revised 06 February 2022; Accepted 17 February 2022; Published 01 March 2022 Abstract Intermediate public transport (IPT) supplements the public transport system by providing first and last-mile connectivity to commuters. A feeder service based on sustainable intermediate public transportation can be made attractive by improving its mobility, accessibility, convenience, and comfort for its users. Sustainable IPT modes have a lower impact on the environment and can cater to the current and future needs of transportation. In this study, commuters' choice responses were collected using a stated preference survey instrument, and the database was analyzed using a Random Parameter Logit (RPL) model. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with respondents who were approached at random. A different combination of values from the levels of attributes was used to create choice scenarios for each IPT mode. Different types of IPT modes were identified in the study act as feeder services, which was used to find their utility functions using a random parameter logit model. The random parameter logit model with heterogeneity was used to evaluate the impacts of different socioeconomic and trip features on mean estimations. The utility function was used to find willingness to pay (WTP) for different attributes of an IPT mode to assess the relative value of these attributes. It was observed that WTP values also varied between different levels, which were based on their "monthly income level", "trip purpose", and "fare". "High income level" commuters have a higher WTP for travel time, frequency, and comfort improvements. On the other hand, the "work trip" and "high travel fare" levels of commuters have higher WTP for travel time, frequency, and safety improvements. According to the findings of the study, sustainable IPT modes with high quality of service are recommended because of commuters' willingness to pay for improved safety and comfort. The results so obtained can also be used for a better understanding of the travel behaviour analysis of various IPT modes. Keywords: Mode Choice Model; Random Parameter Logit Model (RPL); Feeder Service; Willingness to Pay; Stated Preference. 1. Introduction Urban India is experiencing a huge increase in travel demand due to rapid urbanization and the increased use of private vehicles. The urbanization of developing countries has put a considerable strain on existing urban transportation infrastructure, including public transportation (PT) systems. These systems involve a variety of transit options such as buses, rail, and MRT systems. These systems run along fixed routes with set points to a pre-arranged timetable. In the current situation, the public transportation system is unable to cope with the increasing transport demand both in qualitative and quantitative terms, especially in developing countries. In the absence of well-organized public transportation infrastructure, intermediate public transportation (IPT) options such as auto rickshaws, e- rickshaws, and mini buses fill the gap between supply and demand for mass transportation. It can be referred to as * Corresponding author: sanjeev@nitp.ac.in http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-03-09 © 2022 by the authors. Licensee C.E.J, Tehran, Iran. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).