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Lines spacing and scale economies in the strategic design of transit systems in a parametric city

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  • Fielbaum, Andrés
  • Jara-Diaz, Sergio
  • Gschwender, Antonio

Abstract

In this paper, we incorporate the spacing of transit lines in addition to frequencies, vehicle sizes and routes in both the design and the analysis of scale economies in transit systems. First, we present a way of looking at lines spacing in a simple parallel-lines-model whose properties regarding optimal design and scale economies are derived. Then we introduce this concept of spacing into the parametric description of a city - that permits the representation of different degrees of mono and polycentrism - in order to analyze the choice between basic strategic lines structures as feeder-trunk, hub-and-spoke or direct services, where lines spacing is optimized jointly with frequencies, vehicle sizes and routes of all lines involved. We show that (a) there is a link between optimal spacing and frequency such that waiting and access costs are equal; (b) the inclusion of spacing increases the range of demand volumes where transit networks that include transfers are preferred; (c) the degrees of mono and polycentrism influences optimal spacing; and (d) introducing spacing increases the degree of scale economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Fielbaum, Andrés & Jara-Diaz, Sergio & Gschwender, Antonio, 2021. "Lines spacing and scale economies in the strategic design of transit systems in a parametric city," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s073988592030189x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100991
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transit lines spacing; Parametric city; Scale economies; Lines structures; Optimal; Designd;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • R49 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Other
    • L91 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Transportation: General
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation

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