The development and application of analytical methods for evaluating circulator transit system alternatives within/around major activity centers

The main objectives of this study are to develop an analytical methodology that can be used to plan a regional and collection/distribution transit system and to apply these new methods to a hypothetical MAC but highly realistic major activity center (MAC) to investigate how providing a circulator system might relieve congestion problems within/around major activity center in the U.S.;Several new methods for conducting transit system studies are developed and implemented as computer programs. The major methodological developments of this study include a technique for designing a database for a hypothetical MAC, calculating trip distribution tables by hour, direction and occupation, the development of a user equilibrium trip assignment algorithm with link and intersection travel delay, the calculation of disaggregated travel times for transit users, an optimal station location selection technique, a method for determining the optimal fare for a circulator system, a generalized modal split model for a comprehensive analysis, including a generalized parking lot choice model, a parking availability model and a walking distance calculation strategy for transit users living in zones of different zone sizes and shapes and a method for calculating the costs of a personal rapid transit (PRT) circulator system with/without financing costs. These methods have been integrated to insure internal consistency.;Using this analytical framework, the expected performance of two circulator systems (bus, PRT) and three high capacity transit (HCT) system layouts in the hypothetical MAC and its surrounding area has been calculated. Several findings are derived from this experimental analysis. The major findings define the relationships between the circulator and HCT systems, the interaction between the transit system in the subject MAC with other MAC's in the region, the definition of an optimal fare for the circulator, a suitable subsidy strategy, urban design actions that could increase transit ridership, the likely impacts of parking price and space supply variations, speed and headway changes, transfer fare reduction options, and the likely effects of transfer facility and park-and-ride facility alternatives on transit ridership and traffic congestion. These results show that PRT circulator system could be an important component of a regional transit system by providing good circulator service in a MAC. Some additional methodological development needs are also identified.