Recent railway projects in Korea increasingly incorporate linked development initiatives—such as undergrounding, air-rights development, and transit-oriented district regeneration—aimed not only at improving transportation efficiency but also at reshaping urban structure and stimulating local economies. However, existing feasibility assessment guidelines are limited in their ability to reflect these developments, as they often assume fixed travel patterns, inadequately incorporate early-stage development plans, and fail to capture broader urban and economic impacts. This study proposes an improved methodological framework that more accurately evaluates integrated rail–development projects.
The research first develops a travel generation estimation method that utilizes preliminary development information—including land-use composition, floor area, and density—combined with SKT mobility data and GIS-based building characteristics. Regression analysis is used to derive the relationship between land-use types and travel generation, and validation through a mock development scenario shows that the model produces realistic demand levels comparable to actual new town and redevelopment cases.
A revised trip distribution adjustment procedure is also introduced to reflect development-induced travel changes. Unlike traditional approaches that maintain pre-development O/D proportions, the proposed method accounts for newly generated trips, redistribution within the influence area, and external zone adjustment, enabling more realistic demand forecasting for large-scale mixed-use developments.
Furthermore, through a review of international practices, the study identifies two benefit items suitable for domestic application—Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reduction benefits and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) benefits—capturing transportation, environmental, and economic gains that current guidelines do not fully recognize.
Overall, the findings provide a more comprehensive framework for assessing the feasibility of integrated railway and development projects, offering practical guidance for future policy and investment decisions.