A survey on planning semi-flexible transit systems: Methodological issues and a unifying framework

When demand for transportation is low or sparse, traditional transit cannot provide efficient and good-quality service, due to its fixed structure. New transportation alternatives are therefore increasingly proposed, combining on-demand service adjustment capabilities to the regular route and schedule characteristics of traditional transit. Such so-called semi-flexible systems require careful planning, but no formalization of the corresponding decisions problems, nor any comprehensive methodology has been proposed yet. This paper aims at contributing to fill this gap by presenting a comprehensive literature review, and a general and unifying modeling framework for representing and planning semi-flexible systems. The latter takes the form of the Demand Adaptive Systems, which generalizes the semi-flexible systems described in the literature, and also offers a number of advanced features, the scheduling mechanism, in particular. The paper then provides a classification of planning decisions, which is used to structure a comprehensive and comparative literature review of the field of semi-flexible systems, including methodological contributions as well as a number of particularly significant practical experiences.     

Continuous approximation for skip-stop operation in rail transit

Operating speed of a transit corridor is a key characteristic and has many consequences on its performance. It is generally accepted that an increased operating speed for a given fleet leads to reduced operating costs (per kilometer), travel and waiting times (three changes that can be computed precisely), an improved comfort and level of service, which can attract new passengers who are diverted from automobile (items harder to estimate precisely). That is why several operation schemes which aim to increase the operating speed are studied in the literature, such as deadheading, express services, and stop skipping.A novel category of solutions to this problem for one-way single-track rail transit is to perform accelerated transit operations with fixed stopping schedules. The concept is quite simple: as the time required for stopping at each station is an important part of travel time, reducing it would be a great achievement. Particular operations that take advantage of this idea already exist. This paper focuses on one of them: the skip-stop operation for rail transit lines using a single one-way track. It consists in defining three types of stations: AB stations where all the trains stop, and A and B stations where only half of the trains stop (stations type A and B are allocated interchangeably). This mode of operation is already described in the literature (Vuchic, 1973, Vuchic, 1976, Vuchic, 2005) and has been successfully implemented in the Metro system of Santiago, Chile.This work tackles the problem with a continuous approximation approach. The problem is described with a set of geographically dependent continuous parameters like the density of stations for a given line. Cost functions are built for a traditional (all-stop) operation and for skip-stop operation as described above. A simple example is presented to support this discussion. Finally, a discussion about the type of scenarios in which skip-stop operations are more beneficial is presented.     

Public perceptions of the use of dynamic message signs

Intelligent transportation systems have been promoted as a means to improve both the efficiency and safety of the road network. The effectiveness of advanced technologies in improving road safety has been an area of research which has thus far yielded mixed results. In order to ensure that advanced technologies deliver on their intended outcomes, more research has to be devoted to understanding road users' perceptions and reactions to these systems. This study examines drivers' perceptions of the use of dynamic message signs and their self‐reported reactions to the messages displayed. In general, drivers support the use of highway electronic boards for traffic incident reports and weather information which have an impact on traffic delays and level of service. They also think that it is a good idea to display road safety messages and to remind drivers to drive safely and be courteous on the roads. Moreover, most drivers reported that they do read and think about the messages displayed and react positively to some of the road safety messages.     

基于用地分析的公交站场布局规划研究

城市规模的不断扩大和城市化进程的加快使得大城市的交通问题日益突出,大力发展公共交通,是解决密集型大都市交通问题的有效办法。文章介绍广州市公交站场布局方法,分析存在问题的原因,为此类设施用地规划提供参考。     

Examining the influence of multidestination service orientation on transit service productivity: a multivariate analysis

Between 1990 and 2000, U.S. transit agencies added service and increased ridership, but the ridership increase failed to keep pace with the service increase. The result was a decline in service effectiveness (or productivity). This marks the continuation of a long-running and often-studied trend. The scholarly literature attributes this phenomenon, at least in part, to transit agency decisions to decentralize their service rather than focus on serving the traditional CBD market. Many scholars argue that a decentralized service orientation is both ineffective and inefficient because it attracts few riders and requires large per-rider subsidies. This research tests whether a non-traditional, decentralized service orientation, called multidestination service, results in reduced service productivity. Contrary to what the literature suggests, we find that MSAs whose transit agencies pursued a multidestination service orientation did not experience lower productivity. These results indicate that policies that have encouraged the growth of decentralized transit services have not necessarily been detrimental to the industry.

城市公交线网规划综合评价方法研究

首先建立科学的城市公交线网规划综合评价流程和指标体系。然后在主成分分析法原理的基础上,提出应用主成分分析法对公交线网规划进行综合评价的操作步骤。最后借助统计分析软件SPSS实施综合评价,并与专家咨询法、模糊分析法等常用综合评价方法对比分析评价结果。     

非线性优化AHP法在公交服务水平评价中应用

本文应用非线性优化AHP法确定指标权重系数,改进了传统AHP法的不足之处,针对评价指标的模糊性,建立城市公交服务水平模糊综合评价模型,并通过实例分析和计算,验证了该方法的可行性和实用性。     

公交优先的发展策略研究

公交优先成为大城市交通发展的共识,通过采取技术、政策、管理等一系列的优先措施,才能真正做到公交优先.     

日本轨道交通与土地的综合开发

分析日本国土开发利用、轨道交通建设运营、以及轨道交通与土地综合开发的成功经验。日本是世界上人口密度最大的国家,采取以轨道交通为骨干的公共交通为主导的城市发展策略,由于轨道交通建设经营主体的多元化,铁道主业与其它产业的兼营,特别是轨道交通与土地的综合开发利用,成功的解决了城市交通问题,实现了轨道交通的商业化建设与运营,实现了城市经济、社会、环境、交通的协调发展。     

Assessment of alternative ventilation schemes at public transport interchange

The provision of mechanical ventilation in a semi-confined public transport interchange is mandatory in Hong Kong. The authority recommends the general use of low-level-supply and high-level-exhaust airflow schemes that different from the traditional ventilation concept in that low-level emitted vehicle pollutants are best removed at source. Analyses of air quality at typical public transport interchange environments are conducted for the two airflow schemes. The CFD simulations are generalized by studying light and heavy traffic conditions with adjusted ventilation rates to match the change in vehicle emission levels to examine pollutant concentrations at passenger waiting areas and the elevated footbridges. While the conventional high-level-supply and low-level-exhaust scheme could perform better during light traffic loads, the difference diminishes with increased traffic loads during peak hours. On the other hand, the high-level exhaust scheme has an advantage of serving as a smoke extraction system during a fire outbreak.