SYSTEM AND ROUTE OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR MINIMIZING URBAN TRANSIT OPERATING DEFICITS

U.S. transit operators are faced with escalating operating deficits along with growing opposition to the increase in taxes required to offset them. This financial situation has created an immediate need to restructure inefficient and underproductive transit operations. In response to this need, this study developed an analytical framework to help control transit operating deficits. A bilevel optimization model based on nonlinear programming was developed at system and route levels of detail. The model postulates that transit operators could reach a feasible solution for minimizing operating deficits through modifications of current fare and service policies. The model has an economic framework (through the specification of appropriate cost and revenue functions) and solves for optimality through system supply-demand equilibrium. Solutions of the optimization model will provide transit operators with specific operating guidelines for minimizing deficits subject to resource and policy constraints. The nonlinear optimization model is solved using a large-scale (sparse matrix) successive linear programming algorithm. The model was implemented on a microcomputer and was tested with a real-world application to establish its practicality and usefulness.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1013/1013-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SYSTEM+AND+ROUTE+OPTIMIZATION+MODEL+FOR+MINIMIZING+URBAN+TRANSIT+OPERATING+DEFICITS&author=J.+Yu&author=U.+Lall&publication_year=1985
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309039029
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Yu, Jason C
  • Lall, Upmanu
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 9-19
• Monograph Title: Improving utilization of transit resources
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1013
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Bus routes; Deficits; Demand; Economics; Fares; Level of service; Linear programming; Mathematical models; Microcomputers; Minimization; Operating costs; Operating revenues; Optimization; Policy; Public transit; Supply
• Uncontrolled Terms: Supply and demand
• Old TRIS Terms: Operating strategies
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00453103
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309039029
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM