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Demi-flexible operating policies to promote the performance of public transit in low-demand areas

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  • Qiu, Feng
  • Shen, Jinxing
  • Zhang, Xuechi
  • An, Chengchuan

Abstract

The efforts of providing attractive transport service to residents in sparse communities have previously focused on operating flexible transit services. This paper identifies a new category of transit policies, called demi-flexible operating policies, to fill the gap between flexible transit services and conventional fixed-route systems. The passenger cost function is defined as the performance measure of transit systems and the analytic work is performed based on a real-world flag-stop transit service, in which we compare its system performance with another two comparable systems, the fixed-route and flex-route services, at expected and unexpected demand levels in order to be closer to reality. In addition, the dynamic-station policy is introduced to assist the flex-route service to better deal with unexpectedly high demand. Experiments demonstrate the unique advantages of demi-flexible operating policies in providing affordable, efficient, and reliable transport service in low-demand operating environments and this work is helpful to optimize the unifying framework for designing public transit in suburban and rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiu, Feng & Shen, Jinxing & Zhang, Xuechi & An, Chengchuan, 2015. "Demi-flexible operating policies to promote the performance of public transit in low-demand areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 215-230.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:80:y:2015:i:c:p:215-230
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2015.08.003
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    2. Sangveraphunsiri, Tawit & Cassidy, Michael J. & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2022. "Jitney-lite: a flexible-route feeder service for developing countries," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1-13.
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    4. Mishra, Sushreeta & Mehran, Babak & Sahu, Prasanta K., 2020. "Assessment of delivery models for semi-flexible transit operation in low-demand conditions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 275-287.
    5. (Edward) Kim, Myungseob & Levy, Joshua & Schonfeld, Paul, 2019. "Optimal zone sizes and headways for flexible-route bus services," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 67-81.
    6. González-González, Esther & Nogués, Soledad, 2019. "Long-term differential effects of transport infrastructure investment in rural areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 234-247.

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