A Multi-Criteria GIS Approach to Evaluate Transit Accessibility Index: Integrating FAHP in Suburban Malaysia

Abstract. Transit accessibility plays a pivotal role in shaping mobility equity and urban sustainability, particularly in rapidly developing suburban environments where formal public transport infrastructure is often fragmented. This study presents a novel GIS-based Transit Accessibility Index (TAI) model integrating Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) with Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA) to assess transit service equity in Puncak Alam, Malaysia. Nine spatial criteria namely job density, land use, travel time, frequency, reliability, and demographic vulnerability were evaluated using expert-derived fuzzy weights and reclassified into a common scale using Jenks natural breaks. A consistency ratio check (CR = 0.088) validated the reliability of the expert judgment matrix. Site verification confirmed that high TAI zones, such as Alam Suria and Sungai Buloh, correspond with dense transit infrastructure, while low-accessibility areas exhibited limited-service coverage and unfavourable demographic or land use profiles. A sensitivity analysis adjusting the weight of the “age” criterion demonstrated the model’s robustness, with minimal impact on spatial outcomes. The study offers a reproducible, adaptable framework for transit equity assessment in suburban contexts and informs data-driven planning for future Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and last-mile service optimization. Findings support the integration of FAHP-GIS models in accessibility planning and contribute to the advancement of spatial equity methodologies in emerging urban peripheries.