Advanced Operational Improvements to First- and Last-Mile Mobility in Robinson, Pennsylvania, Led to an 18.6 Percent Reduction in Total User Costs Through Integration With Fixed-Route Transit Services.
Pennsylvania Study Built Algorithm to Optimize Flexible Transit Using Real-World Data.
Robinson
Improving the performance of first- and last-mile mobility services through transit coordination, real-time demand prediction, advanced reservations, and trip prioritization
Summary Information
Traditional fixed-route public transit is well-suited for high-density urban areas with concentrated travel patterns and fixed schedules. However, as urban landscapes evolve and socioeconomic trends shift, there is an increasing need for more flexible transit service options. In this study, real-world demand and vehicle trajectory data from May 1, 2019, to July 31, 2019, were used to evaluate and optimize the performance of an existing First-Mile–Last-Mile (FMLM) service in Robinson, PA. Additionally, a general FMLM algorithm was developed to accommodate varying demand and service supply, allowing for the quantification of system performance in terms of travel time costs and day-to-day reliability under four different operational policies.
METHODOLOGY
The flexible and general FMLM algorithm developed in this study used heuristics to make real-time optimal decisions on matching on-demand riders to vehicles, and optimally updating real-time routing based on time-dependent travel times. Vehicle-to-rider matching was done by assigning requests to shuttles by minimizing generalized user costs. During real-time matching and routing, travel times for incoming requests were then compared with historical reliability metrics to better inform real-time decisions. The existing FMLM system in the study area of Robinson consists of two 23-passenger shuttles that pick up and drop off riders at a major shopping center for connections with fixed-route transit buses. The on-demand service facilitates ride requests via a mobile application or a phone call.
FINDINGS
- Results showed that advanced operational improvements to first and last mile mobility reduced total user costs by 18.6 percent with coordinated fixed-route transit integration.
- Results also indicated potential improvements in travel time and user reliability (e.g., wait time) with increases of 51 percent and 53.8 percent, respectively, when trip requests were made in advance of their desired pickup time.
