Simulations of the Effects of Different Waiting Point Scenarios on DRT Operation Performance in Gwacheon, South Korea

Abstract

The usefulness of DRT (Demand Responsive Transit) as an alternative public transportation system for small urban areas without a large-scale transportation infrastructure is widely recognized. The success of DRT operations lies in ensuring sufficient demand against the costs. One of the causes of inefficient DRT operations is the failure to provide a suitable waiting point for vehicles that have just completed a service. Existing simulation studies on DRT performance are based on less realistic assumptions (such as no consideration of vehicle waiting points, a waiting point at the garage only, or limiting to only the optimal waiting points), which makes it difficult to evaluate the differences in DRT performance between various placement approaches for vehicle waiting points. The purpose of this study is to propose alternative methods for designating waiting points of virtual stops for idle vehicles, and to analyze the changes in key performance indices according to each method. To this end, this study established virtual stops on an actual road network in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, which currently operates DRT, and measured and compared the changes in indices such as user waiting time and vehicle driving miles between the proposed methods. The research results have important implications for revitalizing public transportation in small cities and can inform the strategies and improvements of DRT operations.