Global convergence of the trial-and-error method for the traffic-restraint congestion-pricing scheme with day-to-day flow dynamics. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Min; Meng, Qiang; Huang, Zhongxiang
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 69(2016)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Trial-and-error method -- Traffic-restraint congestion-pricing scheme -- Day-to-day flow dynamics -- Global convergence; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2016.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Highlights: A trial-and-error method with day-to-day flow dynamics to obtain TRCPS is proposed. The OD demand and link travel time function, VOT and flow dynamics are not required. The tolls in the trial-and-error method are updated at any arbitrary time interval. The global convergence of the trial-and-error method is rigorously demonstrated. Abstract: The traffic-restraint congestion-pricing scheme (TRCPS) aims to maintain traffic flow within a desirable threshold for some target links by levying the appropriate link tolls. In this study, we propose a trial-and-error method using observed link flows to implement the TRCPS with the day-to-day flow dynamics. Without resorting to the origin–destination (O–D) demand functions, link travel time functions and value of time (VOT), the proposed trial-and-error method works as follows: tolls for the traffic-restraint links are first implemented each time (trial) and they are subsequently updated using observed link flows in a disequilibrium state at any arbitrary time interval. The trial-and-error method has the practical significance because it is necessary only to observe traffic flows on those tolled links and it does not require to wait for the network flow pattern achieving the user equilibrium (UE) state. The global convergence of the trial-and-error method is rigorously demonstrated under mild conditions. We theoretically show the viability of the proposed trial-and-error method, and numerical experiments are conducted to evaluate its performance. The result of this study, without doubt, enhances the confidence of practitioners to adopt this method.