HOW TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SPEEDS IN THE CENTRES OF CONURBATIONS

Wardrop's principle and Thomson's contention imply that the quality of car travel in central conurbations is in equilibrium with the quality of its competitors -in the case of London, the rail system. Moreover, since the quality of the rail system in central London has hardly been touched for many years (except for the Victoria and Jubilee lines), and since rail speed is almost independent of rail demand, whereas road speed is highly sensitive to road demand, then it can be inferred that any increase in road capacity will not and cannot affect road speeds whilst there is suppressed demand which uses the rail system instead. The aim of this note is to demonstrate the currently available evidence for these propositions, drawn not only from London data but also to some extent from Paris. The defects and drawbacks in the evidence are highlighted and a research programme outlined which will provide a more thorough test of the propositions. A modelling approach is also described which enable some of the methods of varying the respective service qualities on road and rail in central conurbations to be tested. Extensions to conurbations where the main competitor is bus, or the suppressed demand does not exist throughout the day, are also noted. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  University College London

  Centre for Transport Studies, Gower Street
  London,   United Kingdom  WC1E 6BT
• Authors:
  • Mogridge, MJH
• Publication Date: 1984-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Bus transit; Buses; Central business districts; Competition; Highway transportation; Improvements; Level of service; Mathematical models; Metropolitan areas; Public transit; Quality of service; Rapid transit; Speed; Subways; Traffic; Transportation modes; Travel; Travel time
• Geographic Terms: France; London (England); Paris (France); United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 1243: Car; 235: Competition; 385: Conurbation; 8036: France; 9108: Improvement; 698: Journey; 653: Level of service; 6473: Mathematical model; 744: Public transport; 5408: Speed; 311: Town centre; 755: Traffic; 1191: Underground railway; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390170
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM