Reducing Total Trip Time and Vehicle Emission through Park-and-Ride -- methods and case-study

Abstract

This study addresses important issues of traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in urban areas by developing a comprehensive mathematical framework to evaluate Park-and-Ride (PnR) systems. The proposed approach integrates queueing theory and emissions modeling to simultaneously assess waiting times, travel times, and vehicle emissions under various PnR usage scenarios. The methodology employs a novel combination of Monte Carlo simulation and matrix geometric analytic methods to analyze a queueing network representing PnR facilities and road traffic. A case study of Tsukuba, Japan demonstrates the model's applicability, revealing potential reductions in social costs related to total trip time and emissions through optimized PnR policies. Specifically, the study found that implementing optimal bus frequency and capacity policies could reduce total social costs by up to 30\% compared to current conditions. This research contributes to the literature by providing a unified framework for evaluating PnR systems that considers both time and environmental costs, offering valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers seeking to improve transportation sustainability. The proposed model utilizes a single server queue with a deterministic service time and multiple arrival streams to represent traffic flow, incorporating both private cars and public buses. Emissions are calculated using the Methodologies for Estimating Air Pollutant Emissions from Transport (MEET) framework. The social cost of emissions and total trip time (SCETT) is introduced as a comprehensive metric for evaluating PnR system performance.