Time-Dependent Route Assignment of Peak Traffic

The Destination Target Time (DTT) is the time a commuter wishes to arrive at his destination. How the DTT affects a commuter's choice of departure time from home and his route for travel during the morning peak period is examined. A model for predicting the combined temporal distribution and route assignment of traffic during this period is presented. A commuter attaches some perceived costs to late and early arrivals at his destination and also to delays in the system. The model is developed by assuming that a commuter selects both his route for travel and departure times from home in order to minimize his total cost. An approximate algorithm is then developed from this model for practical application purposes, and illustrative examples are also presented.