A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL DIVISION OF EXPRESS AND LOCAL RAIL TRANSIT SERVICE

Abstract

THE OPTIMAL LOCATION OF THE BREAKPOINT BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF MASS TRANSIT SERVICE IS ANALYZED. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND THE BREAKPOINT FOR WHICH THE TOTAL COST TO THE COMMUNITY WILL BE THE LEAST. THE GENERAL METHOD FOR COMPUTING COSTS AND DETERMINING THE LEAST COST BREAKPOINT ARE DESCRIBED. THE APPLICATION OF THE METHOD TO AN ACTUAL SITUATION IN THE CHICAGO REGION IS DEMONSTRATED. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE BREAKPOINT IS ANALYZED AS WELL AS THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE IT. THE METHOD IS EVALUATED WITH A DISCUSSION OF ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. TWO TYPES OF TRANSIT SERVICE PROVIDED OVER ONE ROUTE ARE ANALYZED: (1) LOCAL TRAINS WHICH RUN FROM THE CBD AND (2) EXPRESS TRAINS WHICH WILL RUN NONSTOP FROM THE CBD TO A STATION AND THEN MAKE ALL STOPS FROM THIS STATION TO THE END OF THE RUN. THE PROBLEM IS TO FIND THAT BREAKPOINT BETWEEN LOCAL AND EXPRESS SERVICE FOR WHICH ALL THE RIDERS IN THE CORRIDOR WILL BE SERVED AT THE LEAST TOTAL COST UNDER A GIVEN SET OF CONDITIONS. DAILY TRAVEL COSTS INCLUDE THREE COMPONENTS: (1) OPERATING COSTS FOR THE RAILROAD COMPANY OR TRANSIT AUTHORITY, (2) TIME REQUIRED FOR PASSENGERS TO TRAVEL AT THE MAXIMUM SPEED OF THE TRAINS, AND (3) TIME LOSSES THAT PASSENGERS INCUR FROM DELAYS AT STOPS. COMPUTATION OF THE COST ITEMS ARE EXPRESSED IN MATHEMATICAL TERMS. THE METHOD WAS APPLIED TO AN ACTUAL SITUATION IN THE NORTHWESTERN SECTOR OF THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TWO TYPES OF TRANSIT SERVICE CAN BE MORE ECONOMICAL THAN ONE, DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT MAY BE REQUIRED. SAVINGS IN DELAY TIME COSTS, OPERATING COSTS, AND EQUIPMENT COSTS WERE DEMONSTRATED.

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