Integrated Optimization of Bus Line Fare and Operational Strategies Using Elastic Demand. (20th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Chunyan; Ceder, Avishai (Avi); Ge, Ying-En
• Other Names: Wong S. C. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of advanced transportation. Volume 2017(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-20
• Subjects: Transportation -- Periodicals; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/7058789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-6729

Abstract

Abstract : An optimization approach for designing a transit service system is proposed. Its objective would be the maximization of total social welfare, by providing a profitable fare structure and tailoring operational strategies to passenger demand. These operational strategies include full route operation (FRO), limited stop, short turn, and a mix of the latter two strategies. The demand function is formulated to reflect the attributes of these strategies, in-vehicle crowding, and fare effects on demand variation. The fare is either a flat fare or a differential fare structure; the latter is based on trip distance and achieved service levels. This proposed methodology is applied to a case study of Dalian, China. The optimal results indicate that an optimal combination of operational strategies integrated with a differential fare structure results in the highest potential for increasing total social welfare, if the value of parameter ε related to additional service fee is low. When this value increases up to more than a threshold, strategies with a flat fare show greater benefits. If this value increases beyond yet another threshold, the use of skipped stop strategies is not recommended.