Travel Time Impacts of Using Shared Automated Vehicles along a Fixed-Route Transit Corridor

Abstract

Shared automated vehicles (SAVs) offering a fixed-route transit may compete well against privately operated vehicles. This paper analyzes the system costs of all travelers along a 6.4-kilometer (4-mile) corridor under different penetration rates for 10-seat SAVs. The work prices out walking, waiting, riding, and driving times for all travelers in the corridor, along with vehicle ownership, parking, and operating costs. Results show that such self-driving mini-buses or SAVs lower total costs per passenger-kilometer traveled when SAV mode split exceeds 20 percent, even though walking and waiting are valued at relatively high cost. Such vehicles dramatically free up pavement (and parking) space, and perform even better when parking costs at drivers’ destinations are high.