Modeling and Optimization of Integrating Demand-Responsive Shared Connected Vehicles and Public Buses

Providing “quasi-door-to-door” services to residents in low-density areas and improving public transportation sharing are long-lasting challenges. Complementing public bus services, shared connected vehicles (SCV) can enhance the operation efficiency of bus systems. This paper proposes an integrated framework for scheduling the first/last-mile SCVs with public bus systems, to maximize passengers’ satisfaction and minimize operation costs. The origin and destination sites of demand-responsive SCVs are assumed as bus stops. We then model the dynamic states of SCVs and the scheduling of public buses using colored Petri net (CPN). We model and solve the optimal problem of demand-responsive SCVs by the open-source micro simulation software, SUMO, and use traveler demand of the higher education mega center in Guangzhou, China. Results show that the proposed Petri net can capture the integrated traffic system dynamics and the demand-responsive SCVs dispatching improves the operation efficiency of the traditional public bus system considering high traffic demand.