Effect of Transit Capacity onto Morning Commute Problem with Competitive Modes and Distributed Demand

Abstract

A lane exclusively for transit is one measure to reduce urban congestion and intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) are expected to make this policy more effective. However, the advantage may be limited if a transit agency does not provide sufficient vehicles. This study evaluates the effect of transit capacity on a dedicated transit lane policy by examining the morning commute problem, by defining user equilibrium and system optimisation considering transit capacity. It was confirmed that reduced transit capacity under user equilibrium smoothly increases the transit cost per person, which decreases the duration period of the dedicated transit lane and increases the number of early and delayed car commuters. However, the effect of reducing transit capacity under a system optimum depends on the initial solution of the system optimum.