IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transb/v197y2025ics0191261525000876.html

A novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for transit network design and frequency-setting problem considering passengers’ choice behaviors under station congestion

Author

Listed:
  • Liang, Mingzhang
  • Xu, Min
  • Wang, Shuaian

Abstract

The transit network design and frequency-setting problem (TNDFSP) plays a critical role in urban transit system planning. Due to the conflict between the level of service and operating costs, extensive research has been conducted to obtain a set of trade-off solutions between the interests of users and operators. However, most studies ignored the effects of station congestion in TNDFSP, resulting in unrealistic solutions or a failure to achieve optimal design schemes. Therefore, this study investigates the multi-objective optimization of TNDFSP considering users’ choice behaviors under station congestion. To address the problem, a multi-objective bilevel optimization model is first formulated. The upper level is a bi-objective optimization model with two conflicting objectives: minimizing users’ cost and minimizing operator’s cost. The lower-level problem is a passenger assignment problem under station congestion. Moreover, a novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on objective space decomposition (MOEA-OSD) is proposed to solve the complex problem. When dealing with multi-objective optimizations, a decomposition mechanism is developed to convert the problem into multiple subproblems. These subproblems are optimized using an evolutionary approach with newly designed selection process and elite preservation strategy to achieve desirable convergence and diversity. The computational results obtained using Mandl’s benchmark demonstrate the efficacy of MOEA-OSD and the advantage of the proposed model in achieving more comprehensive trade-off solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang, Mingzhang & Xu, Min & Wang, Shuaian, 2025. "A novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for transit network design and frequency-setting problem considering passengers’ choice behaviors under station congestion," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transb:v:197:y:2025:i:c:s0191261525000876
    DOI: 10.1016/j.trb.2025.103238
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191261525000876
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.trb.2025.103238?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arbex, Renato Oliveira & da Cunha, Claudio Barbieri, 2015. "Efficient transit network design and frequencies setting multi-objective optimization by alternating objective genetic algorithm," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 355-376.
    2. Spiess, Heinz & Florian, Michael, 1989. "Optimal strategies: A new assignment model for transit networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 83-102, April.
    3. An, Kun & Lo, Hong K., 2016. "Two-phase stochastic program for transit network design under demand uncertainty," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 157-181.
    4. Jia Hao Wu & Michael Florian & Patrice Marcotte, 1994. "Transit Equilibrium Assignment: A Model and Solution Algorithms," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(3), pages 193-203, August.
    5. Szeto, W.Y. & Wu, Yongzhong, 2011. "A simultaneous bus route design and frequency setting problem for Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 209(2), pages 141-155, March.
    6. Cepeda, M. & Cominetti, R. & Florian, M., 2006. "A frequency-based assignment model for congested transit networks with strict capacity constraints: characterization and computation of equilibria," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 437-459, July.
    7. T. L. Magnanti & R. T. Wong, 1984. "Network Design and Transportation Planning: Models and Algorithms," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 1-55, February.
    8. Szeto, W.Y. & Jiang, Y., 2014. "Transit route and frequency design: Bi-level modeling and hybrid artificial bee colony algorithm approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 235-263.
    9. Jin Y. Yen, 1971. "Finding the K Shortest Loopless Paths in a Network," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(11), pages 712-716, July.
    10. Joaquín de Cea & Enrique Fernández, 1993. "Transit Assignment for Congested Public Transport Systems: An Equilibrium Model," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 133-147, May.
    11. G. F. Newell, 1979. "Some Issues Relating to the Optimal Design of Bus Routes," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 20-35, February.
    12. Mandl, Christoph E., 1980. "Evaluation and optimization of urban public transportation networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 5(6), pages 396-404, December.
    13. Roberto Cominetti & José Correa, 2001. "Common-Lines and Passenger Assignment in Congested Transit Networks," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(3), pages 250-267, August.
    14. Asadi Bagloee, Saeed & Ceder, Avishai (Avi), 2011. "Transit-network design methodology for actual-size road networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(10), pages 1787-1804.
    15. Ahern, Zeke & Paz, Alexander & Corry, Paul, 2022. "Approximate multi-objective optimization for integrated bus route design and service frequency setting," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1-25.
    16. Ren, Hualing & Song, Yingjie & Long, Jiancheng & Si, Bingfeng, 2021. "A new transit assignment model based on line and node strategies," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 121-142.
    17. Cancela, Héctor & Mauttone, Antonio & Urquhart, María E., 2015. "Mathematical programming formulations for transit network design," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 17-37.
    18. Kalyanmoy Deb & Kalyanmoy Deb, 2014. "Multi-objective Optimization," Springer Books, in: Edmund K. Burke & Graham Kendall (ed.), Search Methodologies, edition 2, chapter 0, pages 403-449, Springer.
    19. Banister, David, 2008. "The sustainable mobility paradigm," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 73-80, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ahern, Zeke & Paz, Alexander & Corry, Paul, 2022. "Approximate multi-objective optimization for integrated bus route design and service frequency setting," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1-25.
    2. Wang, Xingrong & Canca, David & Lv, Ying & Zhao, Yiwei & Sun, Huijun & Wu, Jianjun, 2025. "Hierarchical bus transit network design in coordination with an existing metro system," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    3. Ren, Hualing & Song, Yingjie & Long, Jiancheng & Si, Bingfeng, 2021. "A new transit assignment model based on line and node strategies," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 121-142.
    4. Javier Durán-Micco & Pieter Vansteenwegen, 2022. "A survey on the transit network design and frequency setting problem," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 155-190, March.
    5. Javier Duran & Lorena Pradenas & Victor Parada, 2019. "Transit network design with pollution minimization," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 189-210, June.
    6. Li, Guoyuan & Chen, Anthony, 2023. "Strategy-based transit stochastic user equilibrium model with capacity and number-of-transfers constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(1), pages 164-183.
    7. Gong, J. & Szeto, W.Y. & Sun, S., 2025. "A multi-period asymmetric transit frequency design problem," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    8. Tian, Qingyun & Wang, David Z.W. & Lin, Yun Hui, 2021. "Service operation design in a transit network with congested common lines," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 81-102.
    9. Arbex, Renato Oliveira & da Cunha, Claudio Barbieri, 2015. "Efficient transit network design and frequencies setting multi-objective optimization by alternating objective genetic algorithm," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 355-376.
    10. Wang, Zhichao & Jiang, Rui & Jiang, Yu & Gao, Ziyou & Liu, Ronghui, 2024. "Modelling bus bunching along a common line corridor considering passenger arrival time and transfer choice under stochastic travel time," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    11. Cancela, Héctor & Mauttone, Antonio & Urquhart, María E., 2015. "Mathematical programming formulations for transit network design," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 17-37.
    12. Pierre-Léo Bourbonnais & Catherine Morency & Martin Trépanier & Éric Martel-Poliquin, 2021. "Transit network design using a genetic algorithm with integrated road network and disaggregated O–D demand data," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 95-130, February.
    13. Mohsen Momenitabar & Jeremy Mattson, 2021. "A Multi-Objective Meta-Heuristic Approach to Improve the Bus Transit Network: A Case Study of Fargo-Moorhead Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-25, September.
    14. Duran-Micco, Javier & Vermeir, Evert & Vansteenwegen, Pieter, 2020. "Considering emissions in the transit network design and frequency setting problem with a heterogeneous fleet," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 282(2), pages 580-592.
    15. Zheng, Hankun & Sun, Huijun & Wu, Jianjun & Kang, Liujiang, 2024. "Alternative service network design for bus systems responding to time-varying road disruptions," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    16. Xu, Zhandong & Xie, Jun & Liu, Xiaobo & Nie, Yu (Marco), 2020. "Hyperpath-based algorithms for the transit equilibrium assignment problem," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. Nair, Rahul & Miller-Hooks, Elise, 2014. "Equilibrium network design of shared-vehicle systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 235(1), pages 47-61.
    18. Cortés, Cristián E. & Donoso, Pedro & Gutiérrez, Leonel & Herl, Daniel & Muñoz, Diego, 2023. "A recursive stochastic transit equilibrium model estimated using passive data from Santiago, Chile," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    19. Canca, David & Barrena, Eva & De-Los-Santos, Alicia & Andrade-Pineda, José Luis, 2016. "Setting lines frequency and capacity in dense railway rapid transit networks with simultaneous passenger assignment," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 251-267.
    20. Jonas Hatzenbühler & Oded Cats & Erik Jenelius, 2022. "Network design for line-based autonomous bus services," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 467-502, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transb:v:197:y:2025:i:c:s0191261525000876. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/548/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.