Checkpoint dial-a-ride systems

This paper presents a preliminary study of the feasibility of checkpoint dial-a-ride systems. Their cost-effectiveness is compared to that of fixed route systems with no transfers and door-to-door dial-a-ride systems. The results are derived for a simple routing strategy, and involve some simplifications which facilitate the comparisons. For high demand levels, the total cost per passenger for fixed route and checkpoint systems is very close. In fact, their optimal configurations are so alike, and the occurrence of route deviations is so rare, that fixed route systems should be preferred, as they can be operated on a schedule and require less dispatching effort. As the demand level decreases, demand responsive systems become relatively more attractive than fixed route systems, and checkpoint systems might possibly become cost-effective. However, by the time demand responsive systems are significantly better than fixed route systems, door-to-door service can be provided at an even lower cost. This appears to limit the situations where checkpoint dial-a-ride systems can be applied efficiently to a small window of demand levels (and special situations) where they only narrowly outperform other systems.