Vehicle dispatching in macroscopic transport models: modelling Demand Responsive Transit

Abstract

Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) can complement the future mobility system by providing additional point-to-point connections based on requests of the users. As a consequence, the liveability of a city might decrease when DRT vehicles introduce additional congestion due to deadheading (relocation of vehicles without transporting passengers). The amount of congestion is usually estimated using a macroscopic transport model. However, due to a lack of (microscopic) departure times, it is not possible to include the dispatching of DRT vehicles in these models. Therefore, we introduce a new framework that combines mode choice, vehicle dispatching and traffic assignment in a macroscopic model. Simulations for a use case on the island of Curaçao show that indeed additional congestion will occur, and less people use the traditional public transport system if DRT vehicles are introduced.