Use of Shared Automated Vehicles for First-Mile Last-Mile Service: Micro-Simulation of Rail-Transit Connections in Austin, Texas

2020 ◽  
pp. 036119812096249
Author(s):  
Yantao Huang ◽  
Kara M. Kockelman ◽  
Venu Garikapati ◽  
Lei Zhu ◽  
Stanley Young
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Wait Time ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Sustainable Transportation ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Automated Vehicles ◽  
Ride Sharing ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Mode Share

Shared fleets of fully automated vehicles (SAVs) coupled with real-time ride-sharing to and from transit stations are of interest to cities and nations in delivering more sustainable transportation systems. By providing first-mile last-mile (FMLM) connections to key transit stations, SAVs can replace walk-to-transit, drive-to-transit, and drive-only trips. Using the SUMO (Simulation of Urban MObility) toolkit, this paper examines mode splits, wait times, and other system features by micro-simulating two fleets of SAVs providing an FMLM ride-sharing service to 10% of central Austin’s trip-makers near five light-rail transit stations. These trips either start or end within two geofenced areas (called automated mobility districts [AMDs]), and travel time and wait time feedbacks affect mode choices. With rail service headways of 15 min, and 15 SAVs serving FMLM connections to and from each AMD, simulations predict that 3.7% of the person-trip-making will shift from driving alone to transit use in a 3 mi × 6 mi central Austin area. During a 3-h morning peak, 30 SAVs serve about 10 person-trips each (to or from the stations), with 3.4 min average wait time for SAVs, and an average vehicle occupancy of 0.74 persons (per SAV mile-traveled), as a result of empty SAV driving between riders. Sensitivity analysis of transit headways (from 5 to 20 min) and fleet sizes (from 5 to 20 vehicles in each AMD) shows an increase in FMLM mode share with more frequent transit service and larger fleet size, but total travel time served as the biggest determinant in trip-makers’ mode share.

Identifying the Determinants of Light Rail Mode Choice for Medium- and Long-Distance Trips

2012 ◽  
Vol 2275 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieve Creemers ◽  
Mario Cools ◽  
Hans Tormans ◽  
Pieter-Jan Lateur ◽  
Davy Janssens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Transport System ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Mode Choice ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Vehicle Travel Time

The introduction of new public transport systems can influence society in a multitude of ways ranging from modal choices and the environment to economic growth. This paper examines the determinants of light rail mode choice for medium- and long-distance trips (10 to 40 km) for a new light rail system in Flanders, Belgium. To investigate these choices, the effects of various transport system–specific factors (i.e., travel cost, in-vehicle travel time, transit punctuality, waiting time, access and egress time, transfers, and availability of seats) as well as the travelers' personal traits were analyzed by using an alternating logistic regression model, which explicitly takes into account the correlated responses for binary data. The data used for the analysis stem from a stated preference survey conducted in Flanders. The modeling results are in line with literature: most transport system–specific factors as well as socioeconomic variables, attitudinal factors, perceptions, and the frequency of using public transport contribute significantly to the preference for light rail transit. In particular, the results indicate that the use of light rail is strongly influenced by travel cost and in-vehicle travel time and to a lesser extent by waiting and access–egress time. Seat availability appeared to play a more important role than did transfers in deciding to choose light rail transit. The findings of this paper can be used by policy makers as a frame of reference to make light rail transit more successful.

scholarly journals Gender and Age Do Matter: Exploring the Effect of Passengers’ Gender and Age on the Perception of Light Rail Transit Service Quality in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 990
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nazrul Hakimi Ibrahim ◽  
Muhamad Nazri Borhan ◽  
Nur Izzi Md. Yusoff ◽  
Amiruddin Ismail ◽  
Muhamad Razuhanafi Mat Yazid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Sustainable Transportation ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Passenger Satisfaction ◽  
Gender And Age

Light rail transit (LRT) is a sustainable transportation mode that ensures sustainable environmental, economic, and social development. Generally, the rate of public transportation usage in many parts of the world remains low compared to private vehicles. There is a need to understand passengers’ perception of public transportation service quality to enhance passenger satisfaction and increase ridership. Thus, this study used the Kuala Lumpur LRT service as a case study to investigate the effect of a passenger’s gender and age on their perception of the LRT service quality and their overall satisfaction. This survey involved 417 respondents. The outcome of factor analysis indicated that eight factors—i.e., signage, comfort, speediness, safety, ticketing service, facilities, staff service, and provision of information—influenced passenger satisfaction. The results of the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test indicated that the factors influencing passenger satisfaction significantly varied across a passenger’s gender and age. A more in-depth and comprehensive analysis using the ordered logit model and segmentation approach proved that provision of information, comfort, staff service, and facilities were critical determiners of passenger satisfaction in most segments. Safety factors and ticketing services had no impact on overall passenger satisfaction. The findings of this research could help LRT service providers, researchers, and policymakers formulate effective strategies for enhancing passenger satisfaction and increase the ridership for LRT services.

A Platooning Strategy for Automated Vehicles in the Presence of Speed Limit Fluctuations

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (20) ◽  
pp. 154-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Arefizadeh ◽  
Alireza Talebpour
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Travel Time ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Congestion Management ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Driver Model ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Travel Time Reliability ◽  
Automated Vehicles ◽  
Car Following Model

Platooning is expected to enhance the efficiency of operating automated vehicles. The positive impacts of platooning on travel time reliability, congestion, emissions, and energy consumption have been shown for homogenous roadway segments. However, the transportation system consists of inhomogeneous segments, and understanding the full impacts of platooning requires investigation in a realistic setup. One of the main reasons for inhomogeneity is speed limit fluctuations. Speed limit changes frequently throughout the transportation network, due to safety-related considerations (e.g., changes in geometry and workzone operations) or congestion management schemes (e.g., speed harmonization systems). In the current transportation systems with human-driven vehicles, these speed drops can potentially result in shockwave formation, which can cause travel time unreliability. Automated vehicles, however, have the potential to prevent shockwave formation and propagation and, therefore, enhance travel time reliability. Accordingly, this study presents a constant time headway strategy for automated vehicle platooning to ensure accurate tracking of any velocity profile in the presence of speed limit fluctuations. The performance of the presented platooning strategy is compared with Gipps’ car-following model and intelligent driver model, as representatives of regular non-automated vehicles. Simulation results show that implementing a fully autonomous system prevents shockwave formation and propagation, and enhances travel time reliability by accurately tracking the desired velocity profile. Moreover, the performance of platoons of regular and automated vehicles is investigated in the presence of a speed drop. The results show that as the market penetration rate of automated vehicles increases, the platoon can track the velocity profile more accurately.

scholarly journals Understanding People’s Acceptance of Light Rail Transit in Bandung and Its Determinant Factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209
Author(s):  
Raisha Shadrina ◽  
Yuliani Dwi Lestari
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Sustainable Transportation ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Current Transport ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Determinant Factors ◽  
Home Location

The aim of this research was to verify the readiness of Bandung people in accepting Light Rail Transit (LRT) as the new transport option. Through a survey questionnaire with various respondent backgrounds, the researchers applied statistical analysis using ANOVA to compare the acceptance between the group of gender, age, occupation, income, home location, mobility pattern, and current transport. As the extension, the research also explored the factor determining people’s priority in choosing transport and showing attributes (comfort, security and safety, exclusivity, time travel, cost, flexibility, facility, and accessibility). The result reveals that there are no differences between-group comparisons in accepting LRT as the new transport. In analyzing the determinant factors, the result shows that passengers tend to value security and comfort for their daily activities in choosing public transportation. Meanwhile, the exclusivity and facility are considered undesirable for passengers in deciding to take public transportation for travel. LRT is considered as a mode transport that provides sustainable transportation value. The readiness of passenger and market environment to the sustainable transportation option is important to maintain the successful implementation of the LRT project in Bandung.

Transit Users’ Mode Choice Behavior During Light Rail Transit Short-Term Planned Service Disruption

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110124
Author(s):  
Muhammad Arslan Asim ◽  
Adam Weiss ◽  
Lina Kattan ◽  
S. C. Wirasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Choice Behavior ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Mode Choice ◽  
Wait Time ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Service Disruption ◽  
The Impact

Planned service disruptions (PSDs) of light rail transit (LRT) improve service reliability, extend infrastructure’s life, and reduce the frequency and impact of unplanned service disruption caused by system failure. However, the literature on the impact of LRT PSDs on transit customers’ travel mode choice behavior is scarce relative to that on unplanned service disruptions. This study aimed to investigate transit customers’ mode choice behavior in response to short-term LRT PSD in the City of Calgary, AB, Canada. A stated preference survey was designed to gather respondents’ mode choices under a set of hypothetical scenarios. A mixed multinomial logit model was estimated using stated preference data. Findings of this study include: (i) stated LRT ridership dropped by about 35% during the examined short-term LRT service disruption; (ii) transit customers who hold a LRT payment pass (monthly, subsidized seniors, low income, and students) and are frequent weekend LRT users are more likely to stay with the LRT mode in case of short-term PSD; (iii) the value of time for transit users during short-term LRT PSD was found to be 11.76 $/h and 13.0 $/h for travel time (excluding wait time) and wait time during travel, respectively. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on key variables to predict choice probabilities of transit alternatives. Recommendations are made to improve Calgary Transit customers’ experience during short-term LRT PSDs.

scholarly journals Microscopic Traffic Characterization of Light Rail Transit Systems at Level Crossings

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Robel Desta ◽  
Daric Tesfaye ◽  
János Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Level Crossing ◽  
Level Crossings ◽  
Traffic Characterization ◽  
Travel Time Savings

The movement of the light rail vehicles (LRVs) is highly interrupted at level crossings during peak hour times, especially when the intersections are not regulated by a coordinated signal system. Traffic modelling ensures better understanding and interpretation of complex traffic interactions. This study is aimed at modelling light rail transit (LRT) system operational characteristics at level crossings in Addis Ababa City using VISSIM software. The studied scenarios at Sebategna (All Way Stop Controlled, AWSC) and CMC (Roundabout) level crossings are the baseline without LRT scenario, the actual scenario with collected LRV headways, twice arrival frequency scenario, signalized actual LRV arrival, and signalized twice actual LRV arrival. The relative comparisons among the tested scenarios depicted that significant travel time savings can be achieved in some approaches if more green time is offered to nonconflicting phases during a light rail crossing. Overall, the average additional delays at level crossings increase from the base scenario with increasing light rail crossing frequencies, and delay at the level crossing is the second important variable that contributes to the variability of train travel time at peak hours. If it is a must for an intersection to have a rail road to pass through the median, different options should be verified based on the trade-off between the operational cost of the level crossing and the cost incurred if it is grade separated.

PART 6: Light Rail Transit: We Can’t Hear You! San Diego’s Techniques for Getting Balanced Community Input in Major Investment Studies

1997 ◽  
Vol 1571 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Botte Bates ◽  
Dennis J. Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Project Design ◽  
State Laws ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Community Input

Virtually all public works projects require a substantial planning effort to identify impacts, costs, and alternatives. Federal and state laws and regulations call for certain levels of public involvement during planning, but meaningful, collaborative public involvement entails doing more than the minimum requirements. This is particularly true when there appears to be an imbalance in public input, where one viewpoint is heard above others. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) has undertaken efforts on two corridor projects to expand its public involvement in ways that maximize the range of community views, enhance project design, and build support for the project. In addition to the traditional public meetings, newsletters, and open houses, MTDB has used public relations firms, neutral facilitators, and staff outreach to achieve expanded public involvement goals. MTDB has found that, while there are risks and costs associated with these approaches, they ultimately result in better projects that receive more widespread public and political acceptance.

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