Mechanism and Effect of Time Segmenting Commuting on Congestion Alleviation

Abstract:

Commuters’ travel preferences and road network traffic states synthetically have direct impact on the efficiency of travel demand management measures. On the basis and analysis of the deficiencies and merits of staggered work hours and flexible work arrangement, a new demand management named time segmenting commuting was proposed which includes three periods and two adjustments. The new management allows traffic managers arrange work start time distribution for all companies with the consideration of commuter’s preferred work start time. With collected preferred work start time and commute information of representative commuters in Shanghai, the acceptability of time segmenting commuting has been investigated. Then the work start time distribution was adjusted and analyzed according to the proposed adjustment which improved its efficiency and feasibility.

Key words:travel demand management; time segmenting commuting; commute traffic congestion alleviation