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Optimal frequency of public transport in a small city: examination of a simple method

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  • Asplund, Disa

    (Swedish National Road & Transport Research Institute (VTI))

Abstract

This study identifies the welfare optimal frequency of a scheduled public transport service from a methodological perspective, exploring what methods are more suitable for the case of bus services in a small city. The study examines how well various versions of the square-root rule, including established and newly proposed versions, estimate the optimal bus frequencies in the case city of Uppsala, versus estimates generated by a more comprehensive partial equilibrium model. The results indicate that extending the square-root rule by including transfer time, as proposed here, is empirically important. Furthermore, the results indicate that the square-root rule, with this extension, can estimate optimal frequency in Uppsala surprisingly well, and may be suitable for bus lines with two-way demand in the range of 75–200 pax/h.

Suggested Citation

  • Asplund, Disa, 2021. "Optimal frequency of public transport in a small city: examination of a simple method," Working Papers 2021:9, Swedish National Road & Transport Research Institute (VTI).
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:vtiwps:2021_009
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asplund, Disa & Pyddoke, Roger, 2020. "Optimal fares and frequencies for bus services in a small city," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. G. F. Newell, 1971. "Dispatching Policies for a Transportation Route," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 91-105, February.
    3. Mohring, Herbert, 1972. "Optimization and Scale Economies in Urban Bus Transportation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 62(4), pages 591-604, September.
    4. Leonardo J. Basso & Hugo E. Silva, 2014. "Efficiency and Substitutability of Transit Subsidies and Other Urban Transport Policies," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 6(4), pages 1-33, November.
    5. Pyddoke, Roger, 2020. "Analysis of daily variation in bus occupancy rates for city-buses in Uppsala and optimal supply," Working Papers 2020:8, Swedish National Road & Transport Research Institute (VTI).
    6. Franz J. M. Salzborn, 1972. "Optimum Bus Scheduling," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(2), pages 137-148, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimization; Public transport; Service frequency; Square-root rule;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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