Design of heterogeneous flexible-route public transportation networks under low demand

This paper presents design methods for a flexible-route transit system, in which vehicles travel within predetermined areas to provide door-to-door service. The main advantage of this system is that passengers no longer have access stations order gain suitable low and heterogeneous passenger demand distribution as it features hybrid layout includes both hub-and-spoke network the peripheral region grid central region, along with local routes address variations. Continuum approximation (C.A.) used reduce computation burden by formulating problem respect few decision variables. We compare performance proposed (i) typical fixed-route (ii) homogeneous (iii) routes, hypothetical settings. It found through our numerical examples integration three (i.e. flexible transit, tubes, structure), compared counterparts only two or fewer features, yields lower combined agency user costs under assumed distribution. then apply framework more realistic case City Changzhi, China. An implementable Changzhi developed, its verified simulations, demonstrating accuracy applicability continuum model.