Efficiency variations of integrated urban transit stations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from a Mega-City without pandemic lockdown measures

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in unforeseen consequences for urban public transportation systems, raising concerns about their efficiency in cities during pandemics. Using a two-stage bootstrapped Data Envelopment Analysis with a regression approach, this study investigates the changes in integrated transit station efficiency/performance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, South Korea, presenting a unique case study due to its mega city status and absence of a complete lockdown during the pandemic. Besides, it explores the shifting impacts of external environmental factors on station efficiency from 2019 to 2021. Findings from the first-stage analysis underscore a gradual decline in station efficiency, with a pronounced impact evident in 2021. Examining land-uses around the stations revealed that the presence of eateries and hotels in station catchment areas corresponded to enhanced performance. Interestingly, high performing stations with high ridership during the pandemic had low station areas and operating costs. The second-stage analysis pinpointed influential environmental factors, notably young pedestrian volume, which exerted varying influence on station efficiency across different periods. Vehicular accidents and rainfall in the vicinity of transit station catchment areas were consistently positively associated with station efficiency, irrespective of the study year. These findings carry substantial implications and insights for urban planners worldwide.