MODELING COMPETITIVE TRANSIT AND ROAD TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICES WITH HETEROGENEOUS ENDOGENOUS DEMAND

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2002

Subject Area

operations - traffic, infrastructure - vehicle, planning - service quality, planning - signage/information, ridership - mode choice, ridership - elasticity, ridership - demand, economics - value of time, economics - benefits, mode - mass transit

Keywords

Value of time, User charges, Travellers, Travelers, Transit, Service quality, Quality of service, Public transit, Private passenger vehicles, Passenger service quality, Mode choice, Modal choice, Mass transit, Markets, Market share, Local transit, Highway users, Heterogeneity, Game theory, Equilibrium (Economics), Elasticity (Economics), Demand, Choice of transportation, Benefits, ATIS, Advanced traveler information systems

Abstract

A new equilibrium model is proposed to determine the equilibrium market penetration of the advanced traveler information system (ATIS) in a network with heterogeneous users and elastic demand. User heterogeneity is considered by assuming a continuously distributed value of time (VOT) across users, and demand elasticity is considered by using a deterministic mode choice model for public transit and for equipped and unequipped private cars. The user equilibrium of mode choices for a given ATIS service charge, transit fare, and frequency is so determined that no one can reduce his or her generalized travel cost by changing to an alternative travel mode according to his or her own VOT. Furthermore, assuming provision of ATIS and transit services by competitive profit-maximizing firms, the market equilibrium is studied using game theory by determining each firm's service charge and service quality and its resultant market shares. Through numerical simulation, the benefits generated from a given combination of service charges and service qualities to transit and road users, transit and ATIS service providers, and society as a whole are investigated.

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