Assessing Last-Mile Connectivity in Dhaka City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/logistica.v4i4.1704Keywords:
last-mile connectivity, metro rail, commuter satisfaction, transit-oriented development, dhaka, urban mobilityAbstract
Dhaka's MRT Line-6 and elevated expressways represent significant transit investments, yet first- and last-mile connectivity (LMC) challenges continue to undermine their effectiveness. Existing literature in Bangladesh has focused on trunk infrastructure rather than station-level catchment areas, a gap this study addresses. This study assesses last-mile connectivity and commuter satisfaction across three functionally distinct metro stations — Uttara North, Mirpur 10, and Motijheel — representing a transit hub, a mixed residential-commercial corridor, and a central business district, respectively. Using a structured questionnaire survey of 164 commuters through proportional stratified sampling, the study measured last-mile mode choice, travel distance, time, cost, and satisfaction across six dimensions: accessibility, affordability, comfort, convenience, safety, and infrastructure quality. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc comparisons, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Walking (44.5%) and rickshaws (42.7%) dominate as primary last-mile modes, with more than half of commuters travelling over 500 metres and nearly a quarter spending more than 20 minutes on the last-mile leg. Overall satisfaction was moderate (mean = 2.98/5) and varied significantly across stations (F = 3.31, p = 0.039), with Uttara North recording the highest and Mirpur 10 the lowest satisfaction. Infrastructure quality (β = 0.262, p < 0.001) and affordability (β = 0.187, p = 0.001) were the strongest predictors of overall satisfaction, with the model explaining 52.2% of variance. Traffic congestion, poor road conditions, and safety concerns were the most cited barriers. The study offers a station-catchment diagnostic framework and area-differentiated recommendations to guide last-mile investment as Dhaka's MRT network continues to expand.
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