Bus congestion, optimal infrastructure investment and the choice of a fare collection system in dedicated bus corridors

Microeconomic optimisation of scheduled public transport operations has traditionally focused on finding optimal values for the frequency of service, capacity of vehicles, number of lines and distance between stops. In addition, however, there exist other elements in the system that present a trade-off between the interests of users and operators that have not received attention in the literature, such as the optimal selection of a fare payment system and a designed running speed (i.e., the cruising speed that buses maintain in between two consecutive stops). Alternative fare payment methods (e.g., on-board and off-board, payment by cash, magnetic strip or smart card) have different boarding times and capital costs, with the more efficient systems such as a contactless smart card imposing higher amounts of capital investment. Based on empirical data from several Bus Rapid Transit systems around the world, we also find that there is a positive relationship between infrastructure cost per kilometre and commercial speed (including stops), achieved by the buses, which we further postulate as a linear relationship between infrastructure investment and running speed. Given this context, we develop a microeconomic model for the operation of a bus corridor that minimises total cost (users and operator) and has five decision variables: frequency, capacity of vehicles, station spacing, fare payment system and running speed, thus extending the traditional framework. Congestion, induced by bus frequency, plays an important role in the design of the system, as queues develop behind high demand bus stops when the frequency is high. We show that (i) an off-board fare payment system is the most cost effective in the majority of circumstances; (ii) bus congestion results in decreased frequency while fare and bus capacity increase, and (iii) the optimal running speed grows with the logarithm of demand.     

Use of the analytic hierarchy process to evaluate transit fare system

The transportation fare system influences the mobility of a region and the life quality of its inhabitants. This study aims to evaluate a region's optimal fare system by using the analytic hierarchy process, based on a survey among transportation experts, divided into three categories: operators, professors/consultants and government officials. The results are presented divided by category and overall, and the performance of the most important relative criteria to establish a fare system is determined. The most important criterion according to all the selected experts was the fare price, with 21.5%. The fare system determined as the best was distance/zone (31.1%) and the worst was a flat fare system (7.2%). In addition, we show the influence of the fare price criterion in each fare system through sensitivity charts and highlight its importance for all three groups of experts to evaluate the fare system.     

轨道交通AFC系统票卡管理分析

在分析轨道交通票卡应用特点的基础上,把票卡分为回收类票卡和非回收类票卡,研究票卡库存的三级管理流程,详细分析清结算中心、线路中心和车站票卡库存的工作流程.提出回收类车票库存的宽松管理和严格管理,分析这两种方式的特点,并对票卡严格管理方案进行详细分析设计.     

北京市轨道交通自动售检票系统投资控制管理措施分析

本文对北京市轨道交通自动售检票系统投资控制影响因素进行了分析,并对其2008年至2012年的概算指标进行分析,最后对其应用的宏观控制措施和微观控制措施进行总结,可供其他城市轨道交通行业借鉴.     

轨道交通线网票务收益结算

城市轨道交通发展到多线运营后,需要对各收益方进行票务运营收入的清分结算。分析轨道交通运营过程中各收益方提供的服务类型,提出清分中心、轨道交通运营商、城市一卡通之间的相关服务费用的计算方法及清分中心与各方之间的结算方案,并结合西安地铁分析票务收益清分结算方案。     

我国快速公交检票系统布设方法研究

快速公交系统是我国城市公交系统的重要发展方向.合理布设收费系统中的检票系统是保证快速公交系统运营效率的关键环节之一.本文在保证系统整体运营效率的基础上,从检票系统综合成本最小的角度研究检票系统的布设,进而提出了一套快速公交系统检票系统布设的方法.     

苏州轨道交通AFC系统中票卡读写器设计

苏州轨道交通AFC系统中票卡读写器的设计存在软件开放性不足、硬件选型落后，以及对技术标准的执行不严等问题，对AFC系统的建设管理及后续维护等带来了一定影响。为此，在分析现有读写器软硬件技术的基础上，提出了可行的读写器设计方案，并通过测试验证了设计方案的可用性和可靠性。     

Does the increase of public transit fares deteriorate air quality in Beijing?

Since 2006, Beijing lowered its public transit fares as a way to improve air quality. However, Beijing increased public transportation fare prices from December 28, 2014, and commuters pay for the distance they traveled rather than a flat fare. This paper explores the effect of Beijing public transit fares increase on air quality. We collect daily data of air pollution and weather variables and use synthetic control method of Abadie and Gardeazabal (2003) to select control units. We then estimate a difference-in-differences model and assess the effect of the policy on air quality index (AQI). We find a 16.28% increase in air pollution in short run. However, we find no longer-run effect on air quality.     

广州市公交票价调整对轨道客流的影响

与国内其他城市相比,广州市的轨道票价定位偏高,关于下调轨道票价的呼吁和研究也由来已久,2008年11月广州推出了新的公交月票措施,由此带来客流的变化。本文对票价调整前后展开分析,总结一些经验供大家参考。     

轨道交通联网AFC系统设备认证管理研究

设备认证是保证轨道交通AFC系统中信息资源正确、安全及可靠使用的前提条件。设计了三级设备认证体系的总体方案,分析设备认证系统中数字证书和黑名单服务的功能等,阐述AFC系统设备管理的总体流程。分析设备启用、设备停用、设备移动、设备丢失等设备认证管理业务。最后,详细设计了设备双向认证流程。