Connecting e-hailing to mass transit platform: Analysis of relative spatial position. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Peng (Will); Nie, Yu (Marco)
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 77(2017)
• Page Start: 444
• Page End: 461
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: E-hailing service -- Fixed-route service -- Relative spatial position -- Continuous approximation -- Discrete-event simulation; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2017.02.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Highlights: Two relative spatial position designs are analyzed in a hybrid transit system. The optimal design problems are formulated based on continuous approximation. Numerical experiments are performed to compare the optimal designs. A discreet-event simulation model is developed to validate the analysis. Abstract: This paper analyzes and compares two different relative spatial position (RSP) designs in an integrated e-hailing/fixed-route transit system: a zone-based design that operates e-hailing vehicles within a zone, and a line-based design that operates e-hailing vehicles along a fixed-route transit line and with a stable headway. To conduct a meaningful comparison, the optimal design problems for both systems are formulated using a same analytical framework based on the continuous approximation approach. A comprehensive numerical experiment is performed to compare various cost components corresponding to the optimal designs, and a discrete-event simulation model is developed to validate the analysis. The analytical and simulation results agree with each other well, with a discrepancy in the total system cost less than 5% in most test scenarios. These results also suggest that the line-based system consistently outperforms the zone-based system in terms of both agency and user costs, for all scenarios tested. Compared to the zone-based design, the line-based design features a sparser fixed-route network (resulting in larger stop spacing) but a higher dispatching frequency. It is concluded that the higher efficiency of the line-based design is likely derived from the strategy of operating e-hailing vehicles with a more regular route/headway structure and allowing ride-sharing.