A METHODOLOGY FOR FEEDER-BUS NETWORK DESIGN

The U.S. transit industry faces financial difficulties. Among the strategies suggested for improving transit financial conditions, the development of better-integrated intermodal systems has the advantage of potentially achieving both cost reduction and improved service. A network optimization methodology for the design of an integrated feeder-bus--rail rapid transit system is presented. The Feeder-Bus Network Design Problem (FBNDP) is defined as that of designing a set of feeder-bus routes and determining the frequency on each route so as to minimize operator and user costs. The FBNDP is first considered under many-to-one demand and its formulation is discussed as a mathematical programming problem. Then the generalization of the formulation to the many-to-many demand pattern is reviewed. The FBNDP is a larger and complex routing-type problem that can be solved only heuristically. A heuristic method that generalizes the savings approach to consider operating frequency is presented. The analysis presented illustrates the capabilities of the proposed model as a strategic planning tool for feeder-bus network design. It indicates that changes that increase the relative weight of operator cost often result in feeder-bus networks with less circuitous routes operated at lower frequencies, whereas changes that increase the relative weight of user cost result in feeder routes operated at higher frequencies. The solutions provided by the proposed model have been tested and found superior to manually designed networks, particularly under variable demand.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1120/1120-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=A+METHODOLOGY+FOR+FEEDER-BUS+NETWORK+DESIGN&author=G.+Kuah&author=J.+Perl&publication_year=1987
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309044731
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Task Force on Transportation Supply Analysis. 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
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Kuah, Geok Koon
  • Perl, Jossef
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 40-51
• Monograph Title: TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1120
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical reduction; Coordination; Costs; Feeder buses; Heuristic methods; Intermodal transportation; Mathematical models; Networks; Optimization; Public transit; Schedules; Transit vehicle operations; Travel demand
• Uncontrolled Terms: Integrated transportation systems; Service frequency
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00468594
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-04473-1
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM