Urban road network accessibility and traffic flow dynamics in Chennai: A GIS-based spatial assessment

Accessibility is an essential factor to take into account while assessing the performance of transportation networks, especially in urban areas. In order to examine Chennai’s accessibility of critical urban services, this study integrates traffic flow analysis with urban service distribution. Services such as schools, colleges, ATMs, banks, hospitals, police stations, gas stations, bus stops, parks, and theaters are the focus within a 0–6 km radius of specific areas. To measure accessibility, the Mean Weighted Accessibility Index (MWAI) is calculated at 35 different places. A Weighted Scoring Model (WSM) is used to evaluate the accessibility of these services, with weights allocated based on the importance of each service. To account for traffic congestion, the study also examines how traffic volumes and congestion levels affect the accessibility of these services. Additionally, the relationship between urban opportunities and trip attraction is investigated, offering important insights into travel demand trends. A somewhat negative connection ( r = −0.498) has been found between the MWAI and the Traffic Congestion Index (TCI), indicating that accessibility is generally decreased by greater congestion. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used in the study to improve spatial analysis and increase the accuracy of the findings. To improve Chennai’s transport network, the findings offer insightful suggestions for urban planners, highlighting the necessity of focused interventions like better public transportation, better traffic control, and a more equitable distribution of services.