Reliability evaluation for stochastic and time-dependent networks with multiple parking facilities

Abstract

This paper presents a fixed-point model for evaluating the reliability of stochastic and time-dependent networks with multiple parking facilities. The proposed model combines a supply model that simulates the time-dependent attributes of road and parking supplies and their variations with a demand model that simultaneously considers heterogeneous travelers' choices on departure time, route and parking location. In the proposed model, travelers are differentiated by their values of time, and parking locations are characterized by facility type. Schedule reliability and parking reliability are introduced as new performance indices for the evaluation of the level of service of a road network during time of day. A heuristic solution algorithm that uses a combination of the Monte Carlo simulation approach with the method of successive averages is proposed to estimate these two reliability measures. Numerical results show that the reliability performances of road networks are significantly influenced by the network congestion level and the capacities of road and parking facilities. The proposed model provides some new insights for assessing the impacts of various transport policies and infrastructure improvements at a strategic level. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007.