Multi-dimensional Evaluation of Beijing Tongzhou Sub-Center and Downtown Area Commuter Rail Optimization Project (2023–2025): Case Study of Metro Line 6 Frequency & Hub

Yusen Liu

doi:10.54691/fgmqx484

Authors

Yusen Liu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/fgmqx484

Keywords:

Commuter Rail Optimization, transport equity, spatial accessibility, generalized travel cost, polycentric development.

Abstract

This study evaluates the core policy "The Tongzhou District Comprehensive Traffic Management Action Plan (2025)" in Beijing Tongzhou Sub-Center and Downtown Area Commuter Rail Optimization Project (2023–2025) from the three dimensions of neoclassical efficiency, sustainable transportation accessibility and spatial fairness. The research adopts a mixed research method to build a deep analysis framework. First, in the quantitative analysis part, models such as generalized travel cost, potential accessibility and Gini coefficient are used to make a preliminary analysis of the policy. Secondly, in the qualitative analysis part, the policy is evaluated in depth in combination with empirical results. The empirical results initially show that although the policy has successfully reduced the overall cost of commuting and significantly improved sustainability indicators such as employment accessibility, its benefits are unevenly distributed spatially and highly concentrated in the core hub of Tongzhou, resulting in a further widening of the gap with non-core regions. The qualitative analysis combined with empirical results further points out that efficiency-oriented optimization may aggravate the internal imbalance while improving system efficiency. To this end, it is proposed to institutionalize fairness indicators and implement a targeted compensation mechanism to balance efficiency and spatial justice and ensure that the dividends of transportation development are shared more fairly.

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