Public Transport Line Assignment Model to Dual-Berth Bus Stops

Abstract

Bunching at bus stops can be a major problem for traffic and passengers if bus arrivals are not well distributed. Arrivals can be better staggered if bus stops are divided into more than one berth. This article presents a methodology using a bilevel optimization model for assigning public transport routes to bus stops that have been divided to increase their capacity. The upper level minimizes the user costs, and the lower level applies a public transport assignment model under congestion conditions. The model is first applied to an example network to compare different assignment configurations; it is then applied to a real case in the city of Santander, Spain. The quantified benefits of an optimal route-stop assignment show increases of 10% in average bus speed and reductions of 5% in user costs.