Bus network design and operations under emerging vehicle technologies
The bus system, a sustainable transportation mode, has changed little over the past few decades. The emerging technology of connected autonomous vehicles (CAV) has vast implications for bus network design and operations. Currently, transit agencies typically shy away from running buses more frequently in lower density neighborhoods because there would not be very many riders per trip. By making operating vehicles cheaper, transit agencies can potentially run higher frequency, lower capacity vehicles through lower density areas to help resolve the last mile problem. In this research, the research team seeks to understand the bottlenecks facing the current form of bus operations, and explore how CAV technology, particularly smaller CAVs that can form bus platoons, can be used to design and operate bus systems that provide large and reliable service capacity to trunk lines while offering flexible last-mile service to branching service areas. The team will propose novel models for route selection, dispatching, and speed control of all buses in a bus network, and assess the performance of such models as compared to conventional bus system operations. The team will work closely with local transit agencies, such as Unitrans in Davis and Regional Transit in Sacramento, during model development and share with them the research results to facilitate their transit system planning that aims to take full advantage of CAV technology.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $228299
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Contract Numbers:
69A3551747119
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Project Managers:
Kline, Robin
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Performing Organizations:
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave
Davis, California United States 95616 -
Principal Investigators:
Zhang, Michael
- Start Date: 20211001
- Expected Completion Date: 20230331
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Bus transportation; Connected vehicles; Strategic planning
- Geographic Terms: California
- Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01781620
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Center for Transportation, Environment, and Community Health
- Contract Numbers: 69A3551747119
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Sep 14 2021 5:10PM