The corridor problem: Preliminary results on the no-toll equilibrium

Consider a traffic corridor that connects a continuum of residential locations to a point central business district, and that is subject to flow congestion. The population density function along the corridor is exogenous, and except for location vehicles are identical. All vehicles travel along the corridor from home to work in the morning rush hour, and have the same work start-time but may arrive early. The two components of costs are travel time costs and schedule delay (time early) costs. Determining equilibrium and optimum traffic flow patterns for this continuous model, and possible extensions, is termed “The Corridor Problem”. Equilibria must satisfy the trip-timing condition, that at each location no vehicle can experience a lower trip price by departing at a different time. This paper investigates the no-toll equilibrium of the basic Corridor Problem.

Research highlights► Casts light on the intra-metropolitan spatial dynamics of rush-hour traffic congestion. ► The set of space-time points at which departures occur is horn-shaped. ► Numerically constructive proof: unique population distribution s.t. maximum flow is capacity. ► User optimum for a continuous-entry traffic corridor with LWR flow congestion.