Optimization of demand-responsive transit systems using zonal strategy

ABSTRACT

A mathematical model was developed and applied to optimize many to one demand-responsive transit (DRT) systems using a zonal strategy. Such a DRT system provides service between a residential area and a terminal. The model is used to design the transit system, with its terminal sitting within the service area, by minimizing costs that are separately generated in service zones. The decision variables are area of service zone and bus headway. Also stepwise procedures are derived to geographically and sequentially divide the service area into a number of service zones with optimal areas. A case study is conducted for a presumptive demand-responsive transit system operating in northwest Calgary, showing that the model can successfully assist in designing demand-responsive transit systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Demand-responsive transit system
• optimization
• zonal strategy
• mathematical model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Lin Wang http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8790-4958

S. C. Wirasinghe http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5739-1290

Lina Kattan http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7352-6607

Saeid Saidi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7337-5941

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Calgary Transit, the Alberta Motor Association, the University of Calgary, and the Schulich School of Engineering.