Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. SWUTC/07/473700-00077-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date The Commuter Rail Circulator Network Design Problem: August 2007 Formulation, Solution Methods, and Applications 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Nicholas E. Lownes and Randy B. Machemehl 473700-00077-1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Center for Transportation Research University of Texas at Austin 11. Contract or Grant No. 3208 Red River, Suite 200 DTRS95-G-0006 Austin, Texas 78705-2650 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Southwest Region University Transportation Center Texas Transportation Institute Texas A&M University System 14. Sponsoring Agency Code College Station, Texas 77843-3135 15. Supplementary Notes Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program 16. Abstract Commuter rail is increasingly popular as a means to introduce rail transportation to metropolitan transportation systems. The long-term benefits of commuter rail include the addition of capacity to the transportation system, providing a quality commute alternative, and shifting land use toward transit- oriented development patterns. The success of a commuter rail system depends upon cultivating a ridership base upon which to expand and improve the system. Cultivating this ridership is dependent upon offering a quality transportation option to commuters. Characteristics of commuter rail systems in the United States present challenges to offering quality service that must be overcome. Commuter rail has been implemented only on existing rail right-of-way (ROW) and infrastructure (depending upon condition) in the United States. Existing rail ROW does not often coincide with current commercial and residential demand centers and necessitates the use of a circulator system to expand the service boundary of commuter rail to reach these demand centers. The commuter rail circulator network design problem (CRCNDP) addresses a particular aspect of the commuter rail trip, seeking to improve the performance of the entire system through accurately modeling the portion of the trip from rail station to the final destination. This final leg includes both the trip on the circulator vehicle and the walking trip from the circulator stop to the final destination. This report seeks to provide an innovative mathematical programming formulation and solution methodology for the CRCNDP and apply this method to a case study. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Public Transportation, Commuter Rail, Route No restrictions. This document is available to the Design, Transit, Accessibility public through NTIS: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 145 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized The Commuter Rail Circulator Network Design Problem: Formulation, Solution Methods, and Applications by Nicholas E. Lownes Randy B. Machemehl Research Report SWUTC/07/473700-00077-1 Southwest Region University Transportation Center Center for Transportation Research University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas August 2007 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors recognize that support for this research was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program to the Southwest Region University Transportation Center. DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program, in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. iv ABSTRACT Commuter rail is increasingly popular as a means to introduce rail transportation to metropolitan transportation systems. The long-term benefits of commuter rail include the addition of capacity to the transportation system, providing a quality commute alternative, and shifting land use toward transit-oriented development patterns. The success of a commuter rail system depends upon cultivating a ridership base upon which to expand and improve the system. Cultivating this ridership is dependent upon offering a quality transportation option to commuters. Characteristics of commuter rail systems in the United States present challenges to offering quality service that must be overcome. Commuter rail has been implemented only on existing rail right-of-way (ROW) and infrastructure (depending upon condition) in the United States. Existing rail ROW does not often coincide with current commercial and residential demand centers and necessitates the use of a circulator system to expand the service boundary of commuter rail to reach these demand centers. The commuter rail circulator network design problem (CRCNDP) addresses a particular aspect of the commuter rail trip, seeking to improve the performance of the entire system through accurately modeling the portion of the trip from rail station to the final destination. This final leg includes both the trip on the circulator vehicle and the walking trip from the circulator stop to the final destination. This report seeks to provide an innovative mathematical programming formulation and solution methodology for the CRCNDP and apply this method to a case study. v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The United States has experienced tremendous population and economic growth over the past half-century. Since the 1950’s the population has more than doubled and our economic productivity has allowed the ever-increasing number of Americans to enjoy a standard of living unparalleled in human history. This growth trend, based on U.S. Census projections, is expected to continue through the middle part of the 21st century. Millions of Americans will increasingly choose to live in metropolitan areas as these areas are increasingly providing more economic incentive. Our nation’s urban transportation systems are already crowded. This is not expected to improve with the current demand for urban transportation far exceeding what can be provided strictly in terms of increased highway capacity. The current state of congestion in metropolitan areas necessitates that metropolitan planners and engineers consider both roadway capacity additions as well as providing alternative means of travel within the metropolitan region. A significant portion of the travel demand and congestion in any metropolitan region occurs during the peak commuting hours. While many large metropolitan areas experience peak periods that spread throughout the day, smaller areas experiencing significant population growth have large spikes in demand and congestion during the morning and afternoon commute periods. The need to provide commuters an alternative means of travel during these heavily congested periods is an opportunity to introduce commuter rail into the transportation system. It is important to note that congestion relief should not be the only goal of a commuter rail system. In the short term, commuter rail provides a safe, reliable, high- quality option for commuters to travel to work. In the long term, commuter rail provides a metropolitan area the means to more effectively manage its growth and character. By establishing commuter rail, the possibility of future rail and transit modes being implemented improves; future modes that collectively provide relief for a potentially ever-increasingly congested system. Though the potential benefits of commuter rail are great, the best method to implement commuter rail is far from decided. Rail infrastructure is ubiquitous in most urban areas in the United States as access to regional and national transportation has always been a vital component to the growth and success of an area and has historically been fundamental to the growth of metropolitan areas. Deregulation of the rail industry led to many sections of track being abandoned or sold in an effort to optimize the freight rail industry by shedding unproductive infrastructure. The fate of this right-of-way (ROW) varies. The benefits of such ROW and infrastructure is obvious; the upfront capital costs of implementing a rail system in the area are significantly reduced by eliminating much of the ROW acquisition costs, reducing much of the environmental red tape (as the new construction footprint is minimal), and possibly reducing the cost of construction through the use of existing infrastructure, depending upon its condition. If the majority of commuter rail users do not live or work within walking distance of existing rail or proposed rail stations, some means of accessing commuter rail and final destinations are needed if commuter rail is to be considered a viable option for commuters. The means of access are circulator systems, be they fixed guideway or rubber tire. Circulator systems are a means to provide access to commuter rail, and provided that commuter rail compares favorably with other modes of travel, represent a vi way in the short term to help cultivate and retain ridership until development near the rail stations catches up to enhance the stability of the system and its ridership. There is no