Using tradable credit scheme for morning commuting congestion Management with an activity-based approach

Abstract

comparing with a single step tolling scheme, this study presents a theoretical approach to an optimal tradable credit scheme (TCS) setting. It is based on the given activity-based bottleneck model, which extends the classical bottleneck model with the scheduling problem of commuters’ morning commuting from home to work with an activity-based approach. Decisions made by commuters with respect to their activity schedules and time-use can be explicitly reflected. To eliminate commuters’ queuing time spent on the road bottleneck, it finds that the optimal TCS, which is designed for eliminating the bottleneck queue completely, always exist. Moreover, the optimal charge rate is strictly convex with commuters’ departure times, and is related to the marginal utility of activity.