Travel times, rational queueing and the macroscopic fundamental diagram of traffic flow

Abstract

We propose a Markovian queueing model for computing travel times at a macroscopic scale during rush hour. The service rates of the queueing model are state-dependent, reflecting the speed/density relation of the fundamental diagram of traffic flow. In the fluid limit, the dynamics of the transient queue size and travel time processes are governed by a set of differential equations. As an application of the model, we consider the rational time-dependent choice between public and private transport, assuming that there is a congestion-free public alternative to private transportation. Numerical examples reveal that a small reduction in peak traffic can significantly reduce the average travel times.