ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC COST OF WAITING TIME AND ITSINFLUENCE ON PASSENGER SATISFACTION IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: CASE STUDY OF BATNA CITY

Povzetek

This study assesses the economic cost of waiting time and its influence on passenger satisfaction within the public bus system of Batna City, Algeria. Based on survey data from 350 passengers, the analysis reveals a significant discrepancy between actual and perceived waiting times, with a mean of 12.3 and 15.1 minutes, respectively. This psychological overvaluation triples the cost, resulting in a subjective perceived cost of 151 DZD per trip compared to an objective economic cost of 51 DZD derived from average hourly income. Regression analysis demonstrates that the objective economic cost is a stronger predictor of passenger satisfaction (β = -0.532) than raw waiting time alone. The findings underscore that dissatisfaction is driven more by the monetized value of lost time than its mere duration. Consequently, public transport operators should adopt a dual strategy of improving operational efficiency to reduce actual waits and investing in passenger information and amenities to mitigate perceived waiting time.