Congestion pricing with Genetic Algorithm for delay reduction on urban road network

ABSTRACT

This paper investigated the possibility of applying congestion pricing in order to mitigate the traffic congestion on urban road networks in Kuwait. In order to explore the public support of this idea, a satisfaction study survey had been distributed randomly to road users. Genetic Algorithm (GA) was utilized to design the congestion pricing system as a unit price combinatorial optimization problem. Additionally, network analysis with SYNCHRO simulation software had been applied to examine Kuwait city network overall performance before and after applying congestion pricing. Two different approaches had been introduced: User Equilibrium (UE) and System Optimal Flow (SO). It was concluded that commuters are supporting applying congestion pricing as long as it will guarantee them a lower travel time with less delay. Eventually, the positive impact of congestion pricing on the studied network and the delay reduction was clearly noticed.

KEYWORDS:

• Congestion
• road pricing
• delay
• network
• Genetic Algorithm

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).