A fuzzy TOPSIS approach based to evaluate the transportation mode selection: an experience in a suburban university

University town in suburban is a new emerging phenomenon in China, which has an important impact on travel behavior for faculties’ commuting. An evaluation model based on the fuzzy TOPSIS method is proposed to evaluate the mode selection behavior. A hierarchy structure of mode selection is constructed firstly, and time, flexibility, safety and cost are chosen as main criteria. Giving the index value of criteria with linguistic terms, a numerical example is shown to illustrate the solution of proposed model, and the results indicate that private car is preferable to other transportation modes.