Modeling the spatial impacts of public transport on traffic congestion relief in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

This paper presents experimental modeling that explores the congestion relief effect of transit in Melbourne, Australia. The method adopts a four-step model and assumptions on transit user diversion to auto travel when all or part of the transit system is removed in the a.m. peak. When all transit is removed, diversion to autos causes more than 1,000 additional road links to become congested and increases congestion by 30%. More than 1.3 million additional auto vehicle kilometers of travel occurred and some 97,000 vehicle hours were added under this assumption. Congestion delay increased by more than 150%. Analysis of the separate contributions of transit trips to the central business distri..