Planning and Design Model for Transit Route Networks with Coordinated Operations

Author(s):  
Mao-Chang Shih ◽  
Hani S. Mahmassani ◽  
M. Hadi Baaj

A heuristic model is presented for the design of bus transit networks with coordinated operations. Different from past solution methodologies focusing on conventional uncoordinated transit systems, this model addresses the design of transit networks with coordinated operations, using a transit center concept and incorporating a trip assignment model explicitly developed for coordinated (timed-transfer) systems. In addition, this model determines the appropriate vehicle size for each bus route and incorporates demand-responsive capabilities to meet demand that cannot be served effectely by fixed-route, fixed-schedule services. This model is composed of four major procedures: ( a) a route generation procedure (RGP), which constructs the transit network around the transit center concept; ( b) a network analysis procedure, which incorporates a trip assignment model (for both coordinated and uncoordinated operations) and a frequency-setting and vehicle-sizing procedure; ( c) a transit center selection procedure, which identifies the suitable transit centers for route coordination; and ( d) a network improvement procedure, which improves on the set of routes generated by the RGP. The model is demonstrated via a case-study application to data generated from the existing transit system in Austin, Texas.

Author(s):  
John Schumann

This paper compares the changes experienced by transit systems in two state capitals of similar size: Columbus, Ohio, and Sacramento, California. Over the past two decades, Sacramento added a light rail transit (LRT) starter line and experienced significant ridership growth on its multimodal rail and bus system, while Columbus remained all-bus and experienced a decline in patronage. Reasons underlying the divergent performances of these two systems are analyzed and discussed. It is concluded that, in Sacramento, willing political leadership took good advantage of a one-time opportunity for federal funding to build an LRT starter line; that adding LRT made transit more visible and effective and encouraged voter approval of additional local operating and capital funding; and that all of this resulted in a synergy that attracted more riders to the total LRT and bus transit system and led to extension of the rail system to a third corridor in 2003. Although planning for LRT was begun in Columbus during these same years, a serious interruption in the flow of local funds hampered transit development, required cuts in bus service, and prevented development of that region's planned LRT line. Columbus currently has an LRT project in preliminary engineering, and recent reports suggest a consensus to proceed may be emerging.


2013 ◽  
Vol 361-363 ◽  
pp. 1963-1966
Author(s):  
Wei Zhu

An integrated assignment model for urban rail transit (URT) networks was proposed and discussed in four typical scenarios with the consideration of passenger difference between native and non-native. An overall algorithm framework for the model was also developed, which introduced three critical route choice models and combined them appropriately to different scenarios. A case study was performed on a real-scale network of Shanghai during the Expo 2010. The results revealed that the proposed model can deliver more appropriate solution to the assignment problem compared to the existing practice in the real world.


Author(s):  
Ko-Ming Hsu ◽  
Frank Yeh ◽  
Ting-Ya Hsieh

Rail construction is an essential part of the Taiwan transportation projects. Since the mass rapid transit systems are powering by electricity, the successful installation of rail work built under the core electrical & mechanical system is also the key factor of the transit system integration. For cases discussed in this research, since the client needed to apply these contracts of civil laws after the completion yet before acceptance, two problems might be generated under such circumstances: 1) if there was any matter which could not be imputed on either party caused the failure of the contract, which party should be responsible for the result; 2) if there was any cease of operation or casualties and other damages during the verification of system stability and availability, which party should be responsible. The resolve of these problems was in fact a result of risk allocation through contracts. Due to that the risk allocation principals might vary due to the prediction and planning of different parties, based on the contractual freedom idea in Taiwan, if we wish to pursue the risk allocation, this reach point out the procedures it should be. From the case study of this research, it could be seen that one applicable idea of risk distribution, yet in the verification of individual cases, there would be concerns for different ideas due to specific abstract risk allocation ideas. There might be further research into the detailed standards for risk allocation to resolve the potential doubt.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiling Deng ◽  
Yadan Yan

Increasing the efficiency of bus transit remains to be a challenge of urban transportation. Since the optimization of bus routes and their frequencies is significant for transit efficiency, this study aims to develop two data envelopment analysis (DEA) models using network epsilon-based measures (NEBMs). The first NEBM model adopts twelve indicators to evaluate the rationality of the route network design; the second NEBM model uses nine indicators to evaluate the efficiency of the frequency setting. Both NEBM models can simultaneously consider radial and nonradial inputs and outputs and dig into details of the “input/output transformation box.” Finally, the bus transit system of Nanjing in China is used as a case study. Results show that the overall efficiency of network route design is higher than that of frequency setting. According to comparisons between descriptive statistics of the top and bottom performers, inefficiency causes of bottom performers are identified and corresponding improvement measures are suggested. The proposed models are helpful for the development of bus transit systems and can be applied on a yearly/monthly basis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Wanjing Ma ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Yongli Ren ◽  
Chunhui Yu

The bus transit system is promising to enable electric and autonomous vehicles for massive urban mobility, which relies on high-level automation and efficient resource management. Besides the on-road automation, the in-depot automated scheduling for battery recharging has not been adequately studied yet. This paper presents an integrated in-depot routing and recharging scheduling (IDRRS) problem, which is modeled as a constraint programming (CP) problem with Boolean satisfiability conditions (SAT). The model is converted to a flexible job-shop problem (FJSP) and is feasible to be solved by a CP-SAT solver for the optimal solution or feasible solutions with acceptable performance. This paper also presents a case study in Shanghai and compares the results from the FJSP model and the first-come first-serve (FCFS) method. The result demonstrates the allocation of routes and chargers under multiple scenarios with different numbers of chargers. The results show that the FJSP model shortens the delay and increases the time conservation for future rounds of operation than FCFS, while FCFS presents the simplicity of programming and better computational efficiency. The multiple random input test suggests that the proposed approach can decide the minimum number of chargers for stochastic charging requests. The proposed method can conserve the investment by increasing the utilization of automated recharging devices, improving vehicles’ in-depot efficiency.


Author(s):  
Deborah Matherly

The state of Indiana provides operating assistance to transit operators throughout the state. The original formula was designed to reward performance but over time became inflexible to changing situations. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) initiated a study to “create a rational and equitable mechanism for the distribution of State operating assistance to urban and rural transit providers throughout Indiana.” This objective was accomplished through an extensive process that involved the affected transit systems, including a survey of all systems and five meetings with transit system representatives. Transit system preferences were a major deciding factor in selecting specific performance measures and in consideration of factors of importance to the affected systems. The final recommendation was developed under the direction of INDOT and is under senior government review. The recommendation provides a funding mechanism that is flexible, provides comparisons within peer groups and rewards the transit systems within each group that are best serving their customers and providing cost-effective service to their communities, and provides incentives and a phase-in period to encourage systems to improve. The process of developing the formula and its potential application to other states are described.


2013 ◽  
Vol 368-370 ◽  
pp. 1876-1880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zeng ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Hui Zhu

Few studies have adequately focused on passenger route choice behavior with congestion consideration, or provided useful guidance on passenger route choice and hence the transit assignment model, which is the writing motivation of this paper. With congestion consideration, travel cost is assessed and and ways to reduce it also identified. Finally, an actual transit network of Chengdu is used as a case study to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed model. The result indicates that the vehicle capacity is an important factor that cant be ignored and a better understanding of passenger route behavior could significantly benefit public transit system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document