Developing corridor choice model under hypothetical Variable Message Sign based traffic information

Debasis Basu,Bhargab Maitra

doi:10.1590/2238-1031.jtl.v9n2a1

Abstract

The article presents development of a closed-form corridor choice model under hypothetical variable message sign (VMS) based traffic information. A single VMS board is assumed to display traffic information at a junction of two alternative and competitive traffic corridors connecting two catchment areas in Kolkata city, India. The corridor choice models are developed by combining revealed preference (RP) and stated preference (SP) data sources. The development of a combined RP-SP model is a challenging task as different data sources have their respective error terms. In this work, the data sources are combined by exploiting their respective merits; while discarding their respective de-merits. Here a procedure of developing composite utility function is presented, which is constituted of estimates of attributes from SP data source and alternative specific constant term of alternatives calibrated from RP data source, while fixing all coefficients of attributes at SP estimates. The construction of corridor choice models is demonstrated for two types of VMS based traffic information, which differs in terms of the content displayed on VMS board and also for two types of trip maker- namely private car and taxi. Under the influence of VMS-based traffic information, trip makers are found to take corridor choice decision based on the rational trade-off between travel time information and direct travel cost of alternative traffic corridors. The alternative-specific-constant term of choice models indicates that in presence of VMS-based information, private car trip makers are likely to be less biased to choose comparatively longer but almost free-flow traffic corridor (thereby less travel time corridor); while taxi trip makers are likely to be more biased to choose longer but almost free-flow traffic corridor to arrive at their destination.

Highlights

Route choice model is essential for forecasting traffic demand on alternative traffic routes in an urban area
The composite utility function is developed by discarding the revealed preference (RP) attribute estimates and the stated preference (SP) constant terms, but by keeping the SP attribute estimates and the alternative specific constant terms recalibrated from RP data; while estimating coefficients of attributes using SP data
The Multinomial Logit (MNL) models for private car and taxi trip makers from RP data set, SP data set and re-calibration of alternative specific constant term for FO corridor are reported in Table 1 and Table 2 for TI-I and TI-II respectively

Summary

Introduction

Route (or say corridor) choice model is essential for forecasting traffic demand on alternative traffic routes in an urban area It evaluates travel cost of all alternative routes from an origin to a destination and helps to estimate route switching behavior under various hypothetical travel scenarios and thereby, it facilitates to analyze likely traffic condition on the transportation network. VMS is a programmable traffic guidance device, which displays non-personalized real-time information of traffic on alternative routes/corridors to trip makers and drivers. The VMS is expected to bring more benefit to the traffic stream, when the operating traffic volume approaches to capacity In this condition, a small reduction in traffic volume due to a change in route choice behavior under the influence of VMS is likely to bring significant benefit to trip makers (Basu and Maitra, 2010b). The effect of VMS based traffic information on trip makers greatly depends on the content and format (Chatterjee et al 2002; Peeta et al 2000) of VMS based information

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