Optimal coordination for an integrated multimodal and multi-operator transit system

• Main Author: Li, Shoujie
• Other Authors: Lam Soi Hoi
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Transportation
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/12198
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With the rapid urbanisation in most parts of the world, modern transit systems have been made more and more convenient, reliable and integrated. What the situation will be like when multiple operators overlap the service areas partially or fully originates this research topic. In this optimisation research study, the objective function is formulated as the sum of operator cost and user cost. The formulation of total cost in different coordination scenarios are analyzed under three operator policies, i.e. cooperation, competition and independence respectively. By categorizing different groups of passengers in detail, the passenger flows are estimated by transit path choice model. The optimal results in Stackelberg equilibrium can be obtained by the optimisation procedure. The objective functions in scenarios of no coordination and common headway coordination, which are identified as nonlinear programming problem can be solved by considering the first order and second order conditions; whereas objective function in integer-ratio headway coordination is identified as mixed integer nonlinear programming problem. Evaluation of this model is conducted first, and then extensive sensitivity analysis is carried out to verify the evaluation results. Finally the conclusion can be drawn that integer-ratio headway coordination is an efficient and feasible method when operators adopted cooperation policy, whereas it is not recommended for them to adopt a competition policy, because the coordination benefits are not significant and sometimes they may even get worse. This research focuses on optimal coordination of public transit operated by multiple operators during off-peak hours. The results would be beneficial to making regulatory policies as references.