Optimal Parameters for a Coordinated Rail and Bus Transit System

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Abstract
Trips between a metropolitan region and its central business district (CBD) during peak periods are served by a coordinated rail and bus transit system. Each locality is served only by a direct bus to the CBD or by a feeder bus to a railway station from which train service to the CBD is provided. Optimal transit service characteristics that minimize the sum of the transit operating costs and passenger time costs are determined. To formula’e a mathematical model of the system it is assumed that a radiocentric regional highway network centered at the CBD exists. Railway lines are assumed to be radial. The demand for public transit is assumed to be deterministic and to vary slowly with location. The optimization is accomplished mainly by the use of basic calculus in conjunction with continuum approximations of certain discrete parameters. Approximate, but simple and explicit, formulations for the optimal railway inlerstation spadngs, feeder-bus zone boundary and train headways are determined. The relationship of the interstation spacing at a given location to two local demand parameters, a cumulative demand parameter and to various travel-time and cost parameters is shown clearly. A numerical example is also presented.

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