Costs of Travel Time Uncertainty and Benefits of Travel Time Information: Conceptual Model and Numerical Examples

A negative effect of congestion that tends to be overlooked is travel time uncertainty. Travel time uncertainty causes scheduling costs due to early or late arrival. The negative effects of travel time uncertainty can be reduced by providing travellers with travel time information, which improves their estimate of the expected travel time, thereby reducing scheduling costs. In order to assess the negative effects of uncertainty and the benefits of travel time information, this paper proposes a conceptual model of departure time choice under travel time uncertainty and information. The model is based on expected utility theory, and includes the variation in travel time, the quality of travel time information and travellers’ perception of the travel time. The model is illustrated by an application to the case of the A2 motorway between Beesd and Utrecht in the Netherlands.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VGJ-4M6SBBG-1/1/8f6acd603156f5c8bef9fbe8f530180d
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0968090X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Ettema, Dick
  • Timmermans, Harry J P
• Publication Date: 2006-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 335-350
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0968-090X
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0968090X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Conceptual models; Departure time; Estimating; Scheduling; Travel costs; Travel time; Uncertainty; Utility theory
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01038451
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 29 2006 11:06AM