Dynamic parking charge–perimeter control coupled method for a congested road network based on the aggregation degree characteristics of parking generation distribution

Abstract

Homogeneous traffic density is the precondition of macroscopic fundamental diagrams (MFDs) that exist in a regional road network. However, traffic density may be transformed by the effects of traffic flow transmission and parking generation in a dynamic system. Once the homogeneous and uniform traffic density is changed, the shape of the MFD curve is likely affected, and thus, the output efficiency of the road network decreases.Based on the existing research of the aggregation evaluation model of parking generation in a regional road network, the study analyses the relationship between the variation in parking generation aggregation and the variation ratio in the trip completion flow of the network through further analysis. On this basis, a dynamic parking charge–perimeter control coupled (DPCPCC) method in a macro road network is proposed to balance the traffic flow density in a dynamically congested sub-region that exists in multiple public parking lots and to improve the efficiency of traffic flow for the entire road network. Furthermore, the method optimizes the entire parking charge rate of each MFD sub-region, aiming for the lowest generalized cost, reduces the delay time of the road network by adjusting the perimeter control rate, and changes the traffic aggregation index by dynamic charging strategies to improve the congested sub-region outflow efficiency. Finally, the regional road network in the Binhu New District of Hefei is taken as an example, and three control scenarios consisting of the DPCPCC method, the static parking charge–perimeter control coupled (SPCPCC) method, and the proportional–integral (PI) method are analysed and compared.According to the analysis of the relationship between the parking generation aggregation index and MFD changes and the application of this relationship to verify the regional road network dynamic charging model, the results reveal that the DPCPCC method can reduce the marginal social cost and improve the operation efficiency of the road network compared with the SPCPCC and PI control methods.