Efficiency and Equity Comparison of Urban Road Space Reallocation Schemes

Abstract

To encourage an efficient and equitable urban transport system, the paper concentrates on how to manage the road space properly especially on the congested roads. The road space reallocation problem is treated in the model of simultaneously simulating travel modes and route choice behavior of multiple traveler classes with different values of time. To compare the performance of various road space reallocation schemes, not only traditional cost-benefit criteria but also consumer welfare and equity coefficients are used. The road network of the central area in Deqing city is taken to be discussed. In this case three road space reallocation schemes are identified while three transport modes and four traveler classes are considered. The results show that generally bus priority or bicycle priority helps managing road space to encourage a more efficient and equitable transportation. However, taking too much space from auto lanes decreases consumer welfare of high-income travelers who have high value of time.